“Our government has always supported farmers,” says Nitin Gadkari (File)
Nagpur, Maharashtra:
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the protests by new farmers, which have emerged as a major political talking point in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, were ‘politically motivated’.
In a near repeat of the earlier farmers’ protests of 2020 against three farm laws introduced by the government, farmers, riding tractors, gathered at the gates of the national capital in response to a call to ‘Delhi Chalo’ to push for a host of demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP (minimum support price), loan write-offs and withdrawal of police cases during previous protests.
On whether the electoral fallout of the farmers’ protests 2.0 could hurt the BJP-led NDA going into the general elections, the Union minister said he was hopeful that the farmers would not be ‘misled’ like last time ‘ and express their electoral support for the government.
“The farmers’ protest is politically motivated. Our government has taken many decisions in the last two terms in favor and for the welfare of farmers. Our government has always supported the farmers. I believe they will not be misled and will vote in our favour,” Nitin Gadkari told ANI on Wednesday.
Farmer groups earlier mobilized a massive movement against the three farm laws introduced by the central government in 2020-21. Faced with escalating protests, the Center eventually rolled back the farm laws.
Meanwhile, Nitin Gadkari, speaking about the ongoing investigations against opposition leaders and arrests by central investigating agencies, said, “The agencies are doing their job. It has nothing to do with the government, leaders, ministers or the Prime Minister. its course.”
Exuding confidence that the National Democratic Alliance’s stated target of winning over 400 seats could be achieved, the Union Minister said, “We will definitely win over 400 seats. I have faith in it. People across the country believe that this will change the future of the country, in order to work for the welfare of farmers, the Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Prime Minister Modi must be brought to power. We are certain of success.’
Rejecting the comments of BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde for Karnataka that the target of winning 400 seats was set by the party so that they can change the Constitution, Nitin Gadkari said, “There is no question of the Constitution being changed. to change the constitution. We will certainly protect the Constitution.”
Slamming the Congress, the Union minister said, “During Congress rule, the Constitution was violated 80 times. We respect the Constitution and there is no question of its being changed.”
Talking about the Electoral Bonds scheme, which was recently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Nitin Gadkari said, “We had implemented Electoral Bonds for transparency. The party needs money. We have formulated Electoral Bonds in such a way that the money comes in through a formally transparent route. a matter for the Supreme Court. If something new comes along, we will definitely think about it.”
Claiming that a section of voters were consolidating towards him, Nitin Gadkari said, “I have never discriminated against any caste, sect, religion, language or party and no one who voted for me has thought of such differences.”
The senior BJP leader turned down Uddhav Thackeray’s recent invitation to join the Maha Vikas Aghadi and said, “Even after knowing that I belong to the BJP and am a volunteer of RSS, people still love mine. The Prime Minister has also said that ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’, we are good with everyone.’
On the party’s voting prospects in Maharashtra, where it has been accused of orchestrating splits in two parties, Nitin Gadkari said: “The three-engine government will win the elections in Maharashtra in a good way. The NDA will get more seats in Maharashtra than in Maharashtra. the last elections, and we will definitely emerge victorious.”
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