Modi failed to double farmers’ income, but suicides doubled, says Sharad Pawar

Bombay: NCP founder and former Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed to deliver on his promise of doubling farmers’ income. He said that on the contrary, suicides of struggling farmers have doubled in the country. The NCP founder was on a tour of Solapur district, where he delivered a speech on his party’s manifesto ‘Sharad Shetakari Samvad Melava’.

Addressing a meeting in Barshi town of Solapur district, Pawar said farmers are not getting proper returns for their produce, which is pushing them to take extreme step. “The government is not paying attention to farmers. The central government is not giving proper prices to farmers’ produce. Therefore, they are taking the extreme step (of suicide),” he said.

It may be recalled that the BJP had promised to double the income of farmers in the country by 2022. “The Prime Minister had promised to double the income of farmers, but instead, farmer suicides have doubled,” Mr Pawar said.

The NCP (SP) chief said there was an urgent need to change the state government and install a regime that protects the interests of farmers, youth and women. “The BJP governments at the Centre and in the state have not used their power to reduce the hardships of farmers and create employment opportunities for the youth. You will see youth in distress due to lack of jobs. We need to change the government,” he said.

Mr Pawar asserted that there was no big or small brother in the MVA and the MVA’s objective was to defeat the ruling parties. “Our objective is to defeat this government,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Mr Pawar faced angry Marathi agitators in separate incidents who stopped his vehicle in Solapur district. They also chanted slogans against him and waved black flags as the veteran politician addressed a rally in Barshi town.

A group of Marathi protesters stopped Mr Pawar’s SUV while he was on his way to the party meeting and asked him to clarify his stand on the reservation issue. In the video of the incident, Mr Pawar can be heard saying that he supports the reservation demand of the Marathis. However, the protesters demanded clarification on the reservation demand in the OBC category.

In another incident hours after Mr Pawar’s SUV stopped, youths reached his rally venue in Barshi town and chanted slogans hailing quota leader Manoj Jarange. They also waved black flags as Pawar delivered a speech.

Confirming the incident, a Solapur police official said that four youths were chanting slogans in favour of Jarange during Mr Pawar’s rally. They were overpowered by security personnel and police and detained at the local police station.