In a covert attack on the BJP, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday alleged that attempts were being made to spread bitterness in the society, and so it had become a challenge to move the country forward and maintain harmony. Politics used to connect people in the past, but now the country is trying to divide them on the basis of religion, he said, adding that the country’s leadership is trying to insult national icons like Mahatma Gandhi.
Power was addressing a rally in Sangli, about 230 km from here, where he welcomed local leader Shivajirao Naik to fold the NCP, after he left the BJP.
“Shivaji was also successful as the president of the district council … I welcome him to the NCP. Let’s work together to use his skills for the betterment of Maharashtra, “he said. But today, the country is trying. Divide people on the basis of religion, “said Powell.
“Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad fought for the independence of the country and worked to build it. At present, however, the country’s leadership is trying to defame these people, the former Union Minister alleged. The country is currently being run by a team that has a different thinking process. He said that although politics used to unite people, now the country is trying to divide people on religious grounds.
“Recently, in BJP-ruled Karnataka, a‘ fatwa ’was issued by some organizations, where people were told not to buy anything from shops run by members of a minority community. This kind of bitterness is spreading to all those elements who are in power in the state. The question is how this country will move forward and how we will maintain harmony, “Powers said.
“Today we want to fight this orthodoxy. The politics of development must be done for the better future of the workers and peasants. I am confident that (Maharashtra Chief Minister) Uddhav Thackeray, (Deputy Chief Minister) Ajit Pawar, (NCP Minister) Jayant Patil and others will change this picture together, “he said.
At the same time, he said, besides sugar production, people should also focus on ethanol production. “We can’t just go for sugar production. We should choose ethanol production. Having a distillery in some sugar mills is a good decision … Ethanol production will help us save money and farmers and distillers will be able to earn through it. The Prime Minister also announced an incentive policy to support ethanol production.
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