NDA budget burdens farmers — Pawar

Pawar said that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s statements before the budget are different and the actual contents of the budget are different. The budget has caused hardships to the people with its proposals like weighing down 70 per cent farmers with taxes and lowering subsidy on urea. "This will cause a price rise. Besides, the prices of diesel and petrol arelikely to be hiked within 10-12 days," he said and warned that the NCP activists will not remain silent and will take to the streets.

Pawar said that though his party failed to garner the expected number of seats in the Vidhan Sabha, their ambition to defeat the Sena-BJP alliance was fulfilled. "Though we had differences in policies and attitude with the Congress, we formed the government," he said and added that efforts were on to find ways to increase the ‘vaibhav’, (prestige) of Maharashtra, despite the empty coffers. "This will not be possible unless investment increases and new industries are established," he cautioned.

Speaking on the situation in the country, he said that in the recently held polls in four states, the electorate rejected the ruling BJP and the Congress. In the Uttar Pradesh by-elections, the Congress received only four percent of the votes. "This shows that the mentality of the people towards existing parties is changing. They are leaning towards new parties," he said.

"Our party is against changing the framework of the Constitution and P A Sangma, who represents the NCP in the Constitution committee will be able to maintain our policy," Pawar said and added that whatever face the PM keeps, he is working under the shadow of the RSS.

"After 1947, participation in the activities of the RSS and Jaamat-e-islami has not been allowed for government employees because of their stance to change the principles of the Constitution. They have proposed the theory of a Hindu rashtra," he said.

Personally, an individual can follow any religion. However, no one can pressurise other people with their religious sentiments nor force religion in administration. "It will be injustice," he quipped.

In his speach, Bhujbal strongly condemned the allegations of the Opposition of not giving farmers their due. He explained that though the state coffers are empty, the DF government will fulfill its obligations. The state government has debts of over Rs 50,000 crore and has incurred loses of Rs1000 crore in the cotton purchase scheme alone. "But, we will not leave anyone to the winds. We will take loans and fulfill our obligations," he stated.