Allies condemn govt's farm policies

Two BJP allies, the Shiv Sena and Swabhimani Paksha, on Tuesday joined the Opposition leaders in condemning the Modi government’s agriculture policies at a farmers’ parliament here.

The farmers’ parliament marks the second phase of the Kisan Mukti Yatra that began from Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh and culminated at the Jantar Mantar here after criss-crossing six states over the past 13 days.

Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena and Raju Shetti of the Swabhimani Paksha joined CPM leaders Sitaram Yechury and Mohammad Salim, and JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar among others, demanding farm loan waiver and a remunerative price for farm produce.

“I campaigned for Narendra Modi... I supported him, only because he promised to waive off farm loans, but later, his government gave an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying the waiver was not possible... Then why did he promise so?” Shetti said.

Yechury promised the farmers that their issues will be raised in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.

The yatra and the farmers’ parliament was organised by 150 farmers’ organisations, who have joined hands under the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee and plan to continue the agitation till their demands are met.