Sanghatana spells economic agenda

Lashing out at political parties for their failure to do justice to the farmers’ cause, Joshi said none of them deserved the Sanghatana’s support. He said a three-member committee would be appointed to minutely scrutinise the economic policies of major political parties and alliances. The committee will consist of Sanghatana state president Shankar Dhondge, Swatantra Bharat Party’s Dr Manvendra Kachole and Ram Nevle.

Joshi predicted an economic disaster with the fall of the rupee leading to a crisis. The Sanghatana offered a six-point economic agenda for the consideration of major parties. The agenda includes total de-regulation for industry and business; sharp reduction in the size of bureaucracy and tax collection machinery; deployment of surplus staff in creation of infrastructure; creation of a budgetary surplus; amendments to the exit policy and economic reforms for the agricultural sector.

Joshi said unless the agenda is implemented, India is in for a crisis. Political stability, he said, would not automatically bring about the desired changes in the economy. The problem lay not in instability but in the government decision to implement the fifth Pay Commission report and pay crores to the unproductive bureaucracy.

He said that the Sanghatana would consider these issues before announcing its political stand. Joshi said the agitation was called off only after the Chief Minister announced a package, which was better than what the Sanghatana had demanded for the cotton growers.

Earlier, Joshi said lawyers like Sharad Bobde and Bhushan Gavai approached the National Human Rights Commission to look into police excesses in the agitation. Farmers have no faith in the inquiry ordered by the state government, he said.