Pawar targets PM, BJP over bitterness in society

We have to do politics of development, for a better future for workers and farmers. I am confident that Uddhav Thackeray, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil and others will change this picture together –Sharad Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, alleging that attempts are being made to spread bitterness in society, resulting in a challenge to take the country forward and maintain harmony. At the farmers’ rally in Sangli district, Pawar said the politics in the country today is moving in a different direction.

Pawar alleged, “The nation is in the hands of different people. They are criticising and defaming the opposition and icons including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad and others who have contributed to independence and worked hard for nation building. In the name of religion, people are being discriminated against.”

He said the country is currently “being led by a party, which has a different thought process”. Pawar added, “Politics previously connected people, but now attempts are being made to divide on religious lines.”

“Recently, in BJP-ruled Karnataka, a ‘fatwa’ was issued by some organisations, where people were asked not to buy anything from shops run by members from a minority community. This type of bitterness is being spread by those elements who are in power in states. How will this country go ahead and how will we maintain harmony is the question,” Pawar said.

He was referring to the Hindu temple authorities not giving tenders to Muslim shopkeepers for opening stalls during festivals in the neighbouring Karnataka. “We have to fight against bigotry,” he noted.

“We have to do politics of development, for a better future for workers and farmers. I am confident that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, NCP minister Jayant Patil and others will change this picture together,” he said.

Pawar called upon the farmers to also focus on ethanol production in addition to sugar production. “It is a good decision to have a distillery in some sugar factories. The production of ethanol will help us save money and farmers and distillers will be able to earn through it. The PM also announced incentive policies to support ethanol production,” he opined.