Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to repeal the contentious farm laws would not have been taken by the BJP-ruled Centre had there been no elections in Uttar Pradesh and other States in the near future, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday.
Speaking at Mahabaleshwar in Satara district during the NCP’s youth wing convention, Mr. Pawar quashed the BJP’s prediction that the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi Government (of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress) would not complete its five-year term.
“Elections are to be held soon in Uttar Pradesh and other neighbouring States. As per our information, when those in power [the BJP] visited villages in some parts of these States, they got a wholly different kind of reception from the locals from what they expected ... Considering this, they might have sensed what kind of treatment they will get when they go to seek votes. Hence, it appears that the practical decision to revoke these agriculture laws was taken,” Mr. Pawar said.
Takes potshots at Patil
Taking potshots at State BJP president Chandrakant Patil’s frequent predictions of the imminent collapse of the MVA Government in Maharashtra, Mr. Pawar expressed confidence that the three-party coalition would not only complete its full term successfully but would come to power if elections were held at any point of time.
“When the MVA was formed two years ago, some claimed that it would collapse in 15 days. Later, Mr. Patil said it would fall in one month, then two months and so on … since he [Mr. Patil] has time on his hands, it appears he is trying his hand at astrology and drawing such conclusions … he may take pleasure in such predictions, but this Government will complete its full five-year term and if we decide to go together in polls, then the MVA alliance will once again come to power,” Mr. Pawar said.
Slams Centre
Lambasting the Centre’s misuse of Central agencies in Maharashtra, the NCP chief said there was nothing new about their actions and that their inquiries would yield no result.
“I recently met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee … There are six to seven Ministers from her Government who are presently harassed by the Central agencies. I am going to meet her in Mumbai in the next few days,” he said, adding that the Centre had taken a stand to “harass” the non-BJP States by unleashing agencies on them.