2019 polls will be fought on farm issues: Shetty
Ramu Bhagwat | TNN | Dec 26, 2018, 03:58 IST
RAJU SHETTY,MP and President of Swabhiman shetkari sanghtna with Ravindra Tupkar brief to Media Press Confrenc... Read MoreNagpur: The coming Lok Sabha elections early next year will be fought on the issues of farmers and hence it is clear that the BJP will lose it as farmers across the country are too angry with the Modi government, said Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana chief Raju Shetty.
The MP from Hatkanangle in Kolhapur district, who had parted ways with the BJP and now looking to have a role in Congress-led Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), was in the city as part of Vidarbha tour of drought-hit areas. Talking to reporters, he said unlike 2014 when people voted for change and on issues of good governance and corruption, the next general elections will have farmers’ problems at the core.
“Looking at the failure of the Modi government at the Centre and the Devendra Fadnavis regime in state, farmers are the most hassled lot and have made up their minds to teach the BJP a lesson for not doing enough for them. The results in five states gave a glimpse of this anger,” said Shetty.
“The BJP may emerge as party with more seats but will have to sit in Opposition as Modi has lost all friends. There will be none to bail him out as the gap to halfway mark will be large,” Shetty predicted.
“I have been telling the aggrieved farmers to get aggressive and thrash the ministers and officials who have failed them. That will be better than committing suicide,” said Shetty warning of intensive agitations for farmers in the coming days. He also alleged that farm loan waiver was deceptive and no farmers got benefit. Farmers loan accounts have not been restructured and as a result they have failed to avail fresh crop loans
Shetty said the drought situation in the state was much worse and the government was watching silently after announcing drought in 151 talukas. No relief measures have started. Farmers in the drought-hit areas should get 25% of insurance claims immediately till full settlement. But this has not been done, he alleged.
Shetty said he is willing to be part of anti-BJP grand alliance only if his party gets at least 7 Lok Sabha seats to contest and firm condition that the grand alliance would give one-time complete loan waiver to all farmers and an assured profitable remuneration for crops.
The MP from Hatkanangle in Kolhapur district, who had parted ways with the BJP and now looking to have a role in Congress-led Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), was in the city as part of Vidarbha tour of drought-hit areas. Talking to reporters, he said unlike 2014 when people voted for change and on issues of good governance and corruption, the next general elections will have farmers’ problems at the core.
“Looking at the failure of the Modi government at the Centre and the Devendra Fadnavis regime in state, farmers are the most hassled lot and have made up their minds to teach the BJP a lesson for not doing enough for them. The results in five states gave a glimpse of this anger,” said Shetty.
“The BJP may emerge as party with more seats but will have to sit in Opposition as Modi has lost all friends. There will be none to bail him out as the gap to halfway mark will be large,” Shetty predicted.
“I have been telling the aggrieved farmers to get aggressive and thrash the ministers and officials who have failed them. That will be better than committing suicide,” said Shetty warning of intensive agitations for farmers in the coming days. He also alleged that farm loan waiver was deceptive and no farmers got benefit. Farmers loan accounts have not been restructured and as a result they have failed to avail fresh crop loans
Shetty said the drought situation in the state was much worse and the government was watching silently after announcing drought in 151 talukas. No relief measures have started. Farmers in the drought-hit areas should get 25% of insurance claims immediately till full settlement. But this has not been done, he alleged.
Shetty said he is willing to be part of anti-BJP grand alliance only if his party gets at least 7 Lok Sabha seats to contest and firm condition that the grand alliance would give one-time complete loan waiver to all farmers and an assured profitable remuneration for crops.
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