Harish Rawat hits out at BJP over 3 farm laws, price rise
Accuses ruling party of resorting to divisive politics ahead of assembly elections
HARIDWAR: Congress leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday lashed out at the BJP over the Centre’s three farm laws and price rise, alleging that the ruling party is resorting to divisive politics ahead of Uttarakahnd assembly elections due early next year.
Rawat led a foot march in Haridwar from Nanheda-Anantpur till Iqbalpur Sugar Mill, demanding abolition of the three farm laws and timely payment of sugarcane dues to farmers.
“People voted for the BJP in previous elections but now they feel dejected as rise in prices of essential commodities, petrol and diesel, vegetables, and pulses has broken their back. Farmers’ issues have been sidelined by the BJP government. Neither the three farm laws are being scrapped nor are farmers being paid sugarcane dues on time,” Rawat said.
Lashing at BJP for fuelling communal tension through divisive politics, Rawat said that
“Voters need to be aware of the BJP’s ploy. BJP fuels communal tension and resorts to low-grade tactics prior to elections to retain power,” he alleged.
“The main objective of the foot march is to draw the attention of government towards the issues of farmers and steep increase in prices of essential commodities. BJP caters to corporates, while farmers, labourers, poor and common man are being neglected. If Congress comes to power, then all the segments of the society will be catered to.”
Taking part in the march, Bhagwanpur Congress legislator Mamta Rakesh demanded minimum support price of ₹450 for sugarcane crops.
Jyoti Khandelwal, in charge of Haridwar and Ranipur assembly segments, claimed that there is pro-Congress wave in the state and party will return to power with a thumping majority.
“There is no factionism within party and all senior leaders, district unit office-bearers and booth-level workers are working together with a mission to win 2022 assembly elections,” said Congress leader Khandelwal.
BJP state president Madan Kaushik said Harish Rawat is trying his best to get media attention and prove himself bigger than the Congress party itself. “In fact, more pro-farmer welfare schemes and policies have been initiated by the BJP government both at the Centre and in the state in comparison to Congress regimes. Communal card has been and is being played by Cthe ongress which portrays itself as secular but recent statements of Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Rashid Alvi have exposed their pre-election divisive politics,” said Kaushik
DEHRADUN : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that will contest Uttarakhand assembly elections for the first time has stepped up its activities in the state, but political analysts say winning the polls, due early next year, will be a tough job for the party.
AAP leader and Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia started his two-day visit to the state on Tuesday by holding a meeting with traders in Dehradun. AAP MP Bhagwant Mann started his three-day Kisan Sankalp Yatra from Jaspur constituency of US Nagar district on Monday.
Mann, MP from Punjab’s Sangrur, chose US Nagar for the yatra as farmers in the district have been agitating against the farm laws. The district has also a significant Sikh population. He concluded his yatra on Wednesday at Khatima represented by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in the assembly.
Mann accused the BJP of “ignoring the demands of farmers.” He lashed out at the BJP and Congress of “taking turns to loot the state while ignoring the welfare of its people.”
Holding a rally in Uttarkashi, Sisodia hit out at the state units of both the national parties and promised “good governance in Uttarakhand if voted to power.”
He announced that party’s CM candidate Col Ajay Kothiyal (retd) will contest from Gangotri assembly segment.
Though AAP leaders have intensified their efforts, political analysts say the party does not stand much chance in the assembly elections.
“The party is doing all it can for winning the upcoming elections, which every party should do. But chances of them forming the government in state is almost nil,” said political analyst SMA Kazmi.
He said the party is trying hard to squeeze in between BJP and Congress, but it “won’t be able to make much difference.”
“The politics in Uttarakhand has been a contest between BJP and Congress. This time too, it seems to be the same story. But yes, AAP may cause a dent in the vote bank of Congress in the state and can be a spoiler for the BJP in some seats,” said Kazmi.
MM Semwal, a professor of political science in Garhwal Central University, Srinagar, raised doubts on the win of even AAP’s CM candidatKothiyal.
“He has a non-controversial background being an ex-armyman, but has failed to make an impact on the public. He is not that sharp politically unlike BJP and Congress leaders. There are chances that even he may not be able to win polls in 2022.”