On yatra against govt, Oppn is welcomed by BJP, Sena leaders

Mumbai: Senior leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jalgaon surprisingly welcomed leaders of all opposition parties, who are on Sangharsha Yatra demanding farmer loan waiver. Senior BJP leader and former minister Eknath Khadse welcomed leaders at his farmhouse in Jalgaon, while Pratap Patil, Sena ZP member and son of cooperative minister Gulabrao Patil, took NCP leaders for snacks.

The opposition parties’ second phase of the Sangharsha Yatra commenced from Buldana, on April 15. On Sunday when it entered Jalgaon, which is a bastion of BJP, opposition leaders stepped up their attack on the ruling party over the agricultural crisis.

However on the same day, Mr Pratap Patil took NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Dilip Walse Patil for snacks in Paladhi village of Dharangaon tehsil. However, both leaders later clarified that it was not a scheduled or political meeting but just a call of courtesy.

Former minister Mr Khadse also hosted all opposition leaders when the yatra reached his constituency Muktainagar. The veteran BJP leader invited all of them for tea.

Mr Khadse’s invitation also created a buzz, as he is one of the sulking leaders in state BJP. Mr Khadse had to resign from the Cabinet over corruption allegations in June 2016. It had then been rumoured that a few other BJP leaders fuelled the attack against Mr Khadse through various ways.

However, Mr Khadse clarified saying that hosting the opposition is the state’s culture and opposition does not mean enmity.