Uddhav hits out at Maha govt over farmers` issues

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday lashed out at the Maharashtra Government for seeking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's appointment to discuss the demand for increased procurement prices for cotton, paddy and soyabean.

Talking to reporters here, Uddhav criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not having time to listen to the grievances of Maharashtra farmers. "When Prime Minister was abroad, he had time to discuss the Kingfisher issue. Then why is he silent on farmers' just demands?," he asked.

"Why do Maharashtra leaders want to go to Delhi to seek permission to take decisions benefitting the common man? Do they also seek their approval before indulging in corruption?," Uddhav asked. The MSP for cotton should be Rs 6,000 from the present Rs 3,300, he said, adding that aid procurement centres for paddy have not been set up and farmers cannot store their crop, because there are no godowns. The Sena leader alleged that the delay in taking a decision was deliberate, "to divert people's attention from the rampant corruption in the state administration."

Justifying the protests initiated by his party in the cotton belt of Vidarbha, Marathwada and north Maharashtra, Uddhav said, "If the government does not take decision by November 20, our party will start a 'kapus dindi' (cotton foot march) till November 29 and I will lead the protest march in the last phase." When asked about Rahul Gandhi's comments on migrants in Maharashtra, Uddhav, without naming congress MP Sanjay Nirupam, wondered why north Indian leaders, who had "boasted" that people from UP and Bihar could bring Mumbai to a halt, if they wished to, were silent on this remark.