For the first time all the Congress leaders were seen together in a show of strength and unity.
Nagpur.
The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee led the Farmers’ “Halla Bol” morcha to Vidhan Bhavan on the first day of Winter Session. For the first time, all the Congress MPs and MLAs came together in a show of strength. The Farmers’ rally was led by President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee MLC Manikrao Thakre. The Congress Party led farmers’ “Halla Bol” saw a significant number of farmers and Congress party activists.
Manikrao raises voice for farmers: Demands appropriate package
While addressing the Farmers’ Rally at T-Point, Manikrao Thakre alleged that Chief Minister is not at all serious about the farmers’ issues, especially about farmers’ suicides. He claimed that the BJP led government is not doing anything. While demanding an adequate package Manikrao Thakre said that the BJP led government should grant at least Rs 7000/- per farmer to allay the present drought. He claimed that 80% of the villages in Maharashtra and Vidarbha are facing drought. This package alone will mitigate the plight of the farmers. Every demand that he made on the mike was well received by the farmers who aligned their voices to demand the package.
Demand to reinstate suspended Congress MLAs
Manikrao Thakre also demanded reinstating of the five Congress MLAs who were suspended from Maharashtra Assembly for two years for causing injury to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao. He demanded the reinstatement of suspended MLAs Rahul Bondre, Abdul Sattar, Amar Kale, Virendra Jagtap and Jaikumar Gore. He claimed that one cannot silence the voice of the opposition in a democracy.
No excuses: BJP should read transcripts of their own demands: Former CM
In an exclusive talk with Nagpur Today, Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said that many villages in Maharashtra are facing drought. Many crops like Soyabean yielded less harvest this year. The procurement price of Cotton is also way below the expectations. The BJP Government is not talking about loan waivers of farmers. Yet the Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse makes a public statement saying that Farmers have a lot of money. They have mobile phones, latest gadgets etc, so why should they not pay back the loan. When Congress was in power, we had given packages to the farmers of drought affected areas. When questioned, and informed about the statement of the BJP saying that China is not buying Cotton from us anymore, so, the cotton procurement prices are low, Chavan vehemently said “No Excuses”. Every year some or the other problems will be there. When BJP was in opposition, they had demanded Rs 7000 per hectare, while the present rate is Rs 3900/-. Why don’t they read the transcripts of their own demands when they were in Opposition?
Farmers’ issues neglected
Congress MLA from Arvi Amar Kale walked 110 kilometers along with farmers to take part in the Farmers’ Rally at Nagpur. While speaking to Nagpur Today, Amar Kale said that this year, besides the low procurement prices of Cotton, the Cotton crops have also developed a disease called Layla which in-turn has caused low yield of cotton. Compared to every year, the Soyabean yield too was very less. He claimed that the package that they are demanding is not unjustified.
He added that apart from the natural disasters like rain, sleet, hail-storm etc, wild animals too create havoc in the fields. He claimed that wild animals like Wild Boar, Neelgai etc can devour and or destroy the crops overnight if a farmer fails to sleep in the farm in the night.
