Congress boycots customary tea-party


* Accuses Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of being ‘insensitive’, to take out morcha of farmers on Monday
By Kartik Lokhande 
In what could be called a role-reversal, Congress party decided to boycot the customary tea-party hosted by Chief Minister on the eve of commencement of winter session of State Legislature.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had invited various political parties for customary tea-party but informed them that he would not be present as he was attending a crucial meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi regarding Planning Commission. “Not attending the customary tea-party on the eve of winter session shows lack of seriousness on part of Fadnavis Government. This is insult of healthy legislative tradition. Hence, we decided to boycot the tea-party,” said Manikrao Thakre, President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
Addressing a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Thakre accused the Chief Minister of being ‘insensitive’ to issues concerning farmers. When more than half of the villages in State are facing drought-like situation, the Government should have come forward extending financial aid to farmers, he said. However, he alleged, the Government was disinterested. During past couple of months, the atrocities against Dalits had increased and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also failed in finding out solution to Local Body Tax (LBT) and toll collection, he said.
Against the backdrop of the current crisis looming large over farmers, Thakre said, Fadnavis Government should announce financial help of Rs 25,000 per hectare to farmers in rainfed areas and Rs 50,000 per hectare to farmers in irrigated areas. Besides, the Government should ensure uninterrupted power supply for agriculture and stop forcible recovery of electricity bills from farmers. “The Government has not taken any decision on loan waiver,” he said. When Congress was in Government, it had offered various financial packages to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore to farmers in crisis, Thakre added.
MPCC chief announced that Congress would take out a morcha of farmers to Vidhan Bhavan on Monday, the opening day of winter session of State Legislature. Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Congress Group Leader in Legislative Assembly; Vijay Wadettiwar, Deputy Leader; Vilas Muttemwar, former MP; Satish Chaturvedi and Nitin Raut, former ministers; Sanjay Dutt, Abhijit Wanjari, Sunita Gawande also were present at the press conference.
Replying to a question on Congress’ stand over irrigation scam, Vikhe-Patil said that probe and subsequent action should be taken against the guilty. “We will make clear our stand in Legislative Assembly,” he quipped. Wadettiwar said that taking action was the responsibility of the Government.

‘Congress high-command yet to

clear stand in Vid statehood’

Replying to a question on Vidarbha statehood, MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre said that Congress’ central leadership had not yet taken any decision on the issue. “A committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee was appointed some years ago, and it submitted its report to central leadership of Congress. The leadership is yet to take any decision on the issue. Our stand will be the same as that of party high-command,” Thakre said. Personally, he said, his stand need not be reiterated.

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