Congress-NCP behind farmers’ stir, says Devendra Fadnavis

Amid the ongoing farmers’ agitation, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday alleged the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were trying to instigate farmers against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government.

Fadnavis was speaking to the media after a weekly cabinet meeting, where the state decided to provide financial assistance of ₹625 crore to farmers hit by the recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm. The cabinet also decided to provide a grant of ₹1,000 a quintal to farmers whose tur and chana could not be procured by the state, despite being registered for it. The decision was taken in the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Fadnavis’ remarks come at a time when farmers’ outfits are gearing up to intensify the agitation to press for their demands, mainly implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report for better prices. “The farmers have no faith in parties such as the Congress and NCP. So they are instigating farmers against the government by giving tacit support to some leaders,” Fadnavis said.