BJP state president anti-farmer: Opposition

Mumbai: Yet another controversial statement by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chief Raosaheb Danve has embarrassed the party. Mr Danve had reportedly said that the police should have fired at the feet of farmers instead of their chests. The Opposition has condemned the statement and called it proof of BJP’s anti-farmer mentality. “This shows the BJP’s real face. Mr Danve is a habitual offender,” said Dhananjay Munde, Leader of Opposition in the Council. while Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, called for party action against the senior BJP leader.

Mr Danve visited Ahmednagar hospital and met farmers who were injured in police firing during an agitation on sugarcane prices on Wednesday. After coming out of the hospital, he had said, “The firing should not have taken place. But if police felt it necessary,  they should have fired at the feet of farmers and not their chests,” said Mr Danve. He also said that this was the first firing incident after chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took over the home portfolio and he would ensure that such incidents do not take place in the future.

“The BJP state chief had made similar statements against farmers in the past. We have demanded action against him. Farmers are agitating for their rights. Firing in any case is wrong,” said Mr Vikhe Patil.

Stating the ‘real face of BJP’ was exposed, Mr Munde said, “This is the same party that promised minimum support price to farmers before the election. Today when farmers are agitating and trying to remind them of these promises, the government is firing at them.”

Foot-in-mouth moments

In December 2016, Mr Danve had appealed to voters not to shun money being distributed during elections.“It is time for Lakshmi Darshan. Do not hesitate to accept it,” he had said in Paithan, Aurangabad. He had also referred to tur cultivating farmers as ‘saale’. “We are giving enough to tur. Still these farmers keep crying,” were his words.

BJP ministers in dock

BJP ministers have been under fire for controversial statements recently. Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil’s recent statement of potholes has become a point of criticism. Mr Patil had said, “Potholes is not that big issue. The sky will not fall if potholes remain.”   

Irrigation minister Girish Mahajan’s statement on naming liquor too made controversy. “If you want to give name to liquor, then give it the name of lady. It will have more sale in that case, “Mr Mahajan had said. He later apologised for the same. Dilip Kamble, minister of state for social justice had said in May that journalists write anything for money and should be thrashed with shoes.