Don't commit 'sin' of using force against protesters: NCP president Sharad Pawar
Mumbai, Jan 26: In the wake of violence during the farmers' tractor parade, NCP president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said what happened in Delhi is indefensible, but one also cannot ignore reasons which led to the situation as he warned against use of force on protesters.
The former Union Agriculture Minister asked the Centre to hold a dialogue with cultivators seeking scrapping of the new agri-marketing laws giving up its "extreme position" on the issue.
A tractor march meant to highlight farmers' demands dissolved into anarchy on the streets of the national capital, as hordes of rampaging protesters broke through barriers, fought with police, overturned vehicles and hoisted a religious flag from the rampart of Red Fort, a privilege reserved for the tricolour.
Interacting with media persons here, Pawar said Punjab may head towards restlessness if the Centre uses force against protesters and asked the Modi government to not commit that sin.
The farmers organised tractor rally. It was expected of the Centre and those responsible for law and order then to deal with them sensibly. But it did not happen is obvious, Pawar alleged.
Pawar said a way out should have been found over the farmers demands without hurting the protesters who have been agitating for two months.
The NCP leader said from the information he has received, strict conditions were imposed on the protesters before they took out the tractor rally.
It was required to deal with the protesters keeping in mind their 50-60 days agitation and their patience. But a different view was held (by the authorities) and hence, the situation has deteriorated.
None can defend what is happening there today. But we also cannot ignore why it is happening, Pawar said.
Pawar said it was the responsibility of the Centre to note why the farmers who were protesting peacefully till now turned angry and added the government should have handled the agitators accordingly.
But it did not happen and the situation deteriorated, Pawar alleged.
It is my expectation that the Centre shows prudence and gives up its extreme position on the issue while holding dialogue with these (farmers) bodies.
It should hold a dialogue. It should think of their demands seriously and take a suitable decision, Pawar said.
He said Punjab may head towards restlessness if the Centre uses force against the agitators.
If this is not done (dialogue is not held) and if we (the Centre) try to use force, then Punjab -- which was restless once upon a time, but has recovered -- may head towards restlessness and the Modi government should not commit that sin, Pawar added.
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Big and powerful people in India, abroad joined hands to remove me from power: PM Modi
Chikkaballapura/Bengaluru, Apr 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said big and powerful people in India and abroad have joined hands to remove him from power.
Modi also attacked the Congress government in the state.
Citing recent incidents of the bomb blast in Bengaluru and the murder of a girl student in Hubballi in north Karnataka, he urged the people of the state to be alert about Congress, and also accused the party's government here of being "focused on corruption".
"Mothers and sisters have come in a large number here.Your struggle and the challenges you face to nurture your family, Modi has seen this in his house. These days big and powerful people in the country and abroad have united to remove Modi," he said.
"But, because of Nari Shakti and Maatru Shakti's blessings and Suraksha kavach (safety armour), Modi is able to move on fighting challenges," he said addressing campaign rallies in Chikkaballapura and here.
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"Serving mothers, sisters and daughters and protecting them is Modi's priority," the PM said, listing out measures taken by his government for women's welfare in ten years like supporting their self help groups and creating 'Lakhpati Didis'.
Modi said the first phase of voting for Lok Sabha on Friday has gone in favour of NDA and 'Viksit Bharat'.
Targeting the INDIA bloc, he said the opposition alliance doesn't have a leader at present, and has no vision for future, and "their history was of scams."
Praising JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda who shared the stage with him, for his energy and commitment at the age of 90, Modi said he too draws inspiration from him.
"His (Gowda) commitment towards Karnataka, the pain in his heart for the plight of Karnataka today and the 'josh' in his voice, is the testimony for Karnataka's bright future," he said, as he thanked Gowda for his "blessings".
The JD(S) joined the NDA in September last year.
Earlier, in his speech at Chikkaballapura rally, Gowda hit out at Congress, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over a sarcasm-laced newspaper advertisement campaign alleging that the Modi government's gift to Karnataka was empty 'Chombu' (a small, round water container).
Pointing at scams like 2G and coal gate during UPA rule under Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, he said, "After looting the resources of the state and the country during the Congress regime, Modi was given the empty 'Chombu', which the prime minister has turned into 'Akshaya Patre' in ten years."
Modi, later addressing a public rally in Bengaluru said that in 2014 and 2019, a strong government was formed with people giving record seats to the BJP, which has made the country strong. India was earlier considered among "fragile five", but today every country in the world wants to strengthen friendship with India and investors want to invest in the country, he said.
India today is among the world's top five economies, he said. India today is not the one that follows, but has become the "first mover". "This has happened in just ten years."
In this election, INDIA bloc leaders are going around with an "old tape recorder," while Modi and his friends are seeking blessings once again with the track record, the prime minister said.
"The Congress and INDI Alliance's focus during the campaign was Modi, his parivaar, and false allegations about the prime minister, while Modi's focus is on India's development in the 21st century, its prosperity and its global image."
The NDA government is doing record investment in social, physical and digital infrastructure, he said.
Modi said the Karnataka Congress government's only focus is corruption.
Bengaluru's founder Nadaprabhu Kempegowda had dreamt of a magnificent city, but the Congress government in very less time has ruined the situation here, Modi said. Congress has changed tech city into tanker city, and has left it to the water mafia.
Whether it is agriculture or urban infrastructure, the budget is being cut in every sector in Karnataka, he said, adding, Congress' focus is only on corruption, but not on the issues faced by people of Bengaluru. "Only Central government projects are going at a fast pace in Karnataka."
Highlighting various developmental works undertaken by his government and its benefits for Bengaluru, the prime minister said Congress had tried to create an issue regarding Bengaluru-based defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and had tried to defame Modi across India. "But, the same HAL today is achieving record turnover, record profit and record orders."
The Congress and INDI Alliance is "anti technology", he alleged, as he accused Congress had opposed Aadhaar and Jandhan accounts, and had made fun of digital payment, and tried to defame Corona vaccine, among others.
"Modi says that we will make the country a hub for green energy, pharma, electronics, electric vehicles, semiconductors, global innovation, so as to make India a hub for global economy, but Congress and INDI Alliance say that they will remove Modi.
"Modi's guarantee is -- 6G after 5G, we will bring AI, Gaganyaan after Chandrayaan, and they (Congress and INDIA) say that they will remove Modi," he said, calling Congress anti -- youth, investment, tax payer, entrepreneurship and wealth creator.
Stating that attacks happening on our daughters, those listening to bhajans and kirtans in Karnataka, bombs exploding at markets, and these are not common incidents, the prime minister said, "I urge the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru to be alert about Congress."
Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka will be held in two phases - April 26 and May 7.
