Post farmers protest in New Delhi, Bhartiya Janta Party Kisan Morcha (BJPKM) president has shared his party views on the same. Virendra Singh who is the national president of BJPKM and Member of Parliament from Bhadohi parliamentary seat of UP, strongly condemned parties who according to Singh have been finding a political base on the name of farmers’. Aggressively criticising United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Singh said, “I strongly disagree with the opposition parties to misguide and cheat distressed farmers on the name of pseudo support.”
Speaking to BW Businessworld, Singh said that if they (farmers’ union) agreed he would have met them personally, but they did not agree to talk. He further said that if the issue (s) can’t be resolved through talks, do they want to follow the language of the gun? Singh further said that it was an orchestrated protest with sheer opportunist behaviour by opposition parties to destabilise the government. They (opposition parties) used farmers’ as puppets and played with their innocent emotions, said Singh.
Singh further said that he sent a message to the farmer unions about starting a dialogue so that the government can improve its ongoing schemes more effectively. According to Singh, the unions did not talk to him. Indicating to another recent protest by farmers he said that many of the demands have been met but it needs dialogue! Answering to BW Businessworld’s question of loan waiver and BJPKM’s stand on it, Singh said that loan waiver can never be a permanent solution and government is working to raise the income of farmers so that farmers’ can repay the loans. Singh further said that the loan waiver has become a tool for banks to adjust corruption.
Singh further said that they have requested the government for the purchase of commodities from farmers’ during off seasons as well. According to Singh, this can also help the farmers to avoid food wastage during storage at their end. Sigh further said that there were other constructive discussions that would have taken place during farmers protest, but opposition has made it stage of opportunism. Singh criticised many of the leaders without taking their names and said, “Many of those supporting protests do not know the ABC of farming”. He has also indicated that the interim budget may be “farmers’ friendly again”.