Pakistan, China behind Farmers’ Stir: Union Minister Raosaheb Danve

Mumbai: Union minister of state for consumer affairs Raosaheb Danve has alleged that the farmers’ agitation was on at the behest of China and Pakistan. “This is not a farmer’s protest. China and Pakistan are behind this. First, they tried to mislead Muslims by saying they would have to leave the country due to CAA and NRC. Did even one Muslim leave the country?” he said while addressing a rally in Jalna on Tuesday. For the record, a nationwide survey for preparing the national register for citizens was put on hold following the pandemic and the process is yet to resume.

“This is a conspiracy of foreign countries. Farmers are being told that the government is trying to create losses for them. Farmers should understand this.” Danve has made controversial statements even earlier. As Maharashtra BJP chief, he derided farmers and abused them for their demand that the state government procure more ‘tur dal’.

“The government has purchased 1 lakh tonnes of tur. Yet farmers are crying. Stop raising these issues now,” Danve said and used an abuse to describe the farmers for complaining too much. Danve later claimed that he his remark was misinterpreted. In 2019, he made news while campaigning for his son Santosh for the assembly polls. He said Muslims were allowed to slaughter cows in his son’s constituency although it is banned legally. Danve later claimed that the clip was doctored.

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti slammed Danve for Wednesday’s statement. He said the Union government was playing with fire. “He is supposed to be a food and civil supplies minister and he is making such statements. In the 80s, internal strife in Punjab was also due to low price of crops. I think some in the government want the issue to get out of hand,” Shetti alleged.