BJP has internal democracy, says Nana Patole in U-turn
Nana Patole, Member of Parliament of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who had last week said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not like to ask questions, on Wednesday did a U-turn from his previous stand and said that BJP has internal democracy and the party allows leaders to express free and frank opinion. However, Patole maintained that he still opposes the online registry of application by farmers for loan waiver.
After meeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Patole addressed mediapersons at Mantralaya where he reiterated that Fadnavis is his good friend, but he has changed after he shifted to Mumbai (after becoming chief minister).
“Devendra and I joined politics at the same time. I am happy with him. But I am not happy with his system adopted to avail loan waiver benefit. Farmers are facing difficulties to fill up and that is why I am opposing it,” said Patole. He said that he is not against the chief minister but against the system.
Patole also criticised Chandrakant Patil, minister for revenue, for his statement, saying that there are 10 lakh bogus farmers.
“The procedure to file application is still going on. The computer has a system which cannot accept the form of farmers without their 7/12 cards (property card of agricultural land). Once the process is done, all forms would be scrutinised,” said the BJP leader.
Patole added that even Fadnavis told him that there are no bogus farmers found and Patil should not have to comment in such a way. He said that being representative of the people, he will not keep mum and will speak against all wrong things. There are rumours that Praful Patel, former Union minister and senior leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), would join the BJP and he has a good rapport with Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
Patole is disgruntled with this rumour. Patole clarified that when BJP has not yet taken any decision about Patel, why should he speak on such a baseless issue. Patole won the Bhandara constituency by defeating Patel in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Patole was disappointed with Modi as he was stopped to ask questions about farmers’ suicide in a party meeting. Patole had criticised Modi. But in Mumbai, he said that his disappointment has reached Modi. “I had never spoken against the party, never said Danve (Raosaheb), BJP state president is a chor, but always spoke against the system. I will continue to put my stand before the House of Parliament,” said Patole and added that BJP has democracy and he is allowed to speak.