Poll code no barrier to give aid to affected farmers, says Gopinath Munde

“There is no need to take permission from the Election Commission to provide financial aid to the affected farmers during the code of conduct,” the Beed Lok Sabha MP said.

   

Munde was speaking at a press conference at the BJP office in Beed.

   

The state government has a right to take suo motu decision on financial assistance to the farmers, the former deputy chief minister said.

   

Due to hailstorm and unseasonal rains in the last eight days, standing crops like wheat, jowar, sunflower, pulses and vegetables suffered heavy damage in several parts of the state particularly Vidarbha and Marathwada, he said.

   

This is not a normal natural calamity. Hence, the Centre and state government should declare a special package for the affected farmers, Munde said.

   

The government officials should quickly assess the damage so that relief is promptly provided to agriculturists, who do not have any other source of income, he added.

(Agencies)

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Pawar won't merge NCP with Congress before LS polls: Gopinath Munde

"NCP is not even a state-level party but a divisional level outfit having presence only in western Maharashtra," Munde said, speaking to reporters ahead of a rally by top opposition leaders on Sunday evening.

    

"We (opposition) are not willing to take Pawar into our fold. So that leaves Pawar no other option but to go with Congress," Munde said.

    

"The opposition alliance is united and our only objective is to dislodge the Congress-NCP government," Munde said.

    

After RPI leader Ramdas Athawale takes oath as Rajya Sabha member, his party will join NDA and he would be invited for all meetings of the BJP-led front at Centre, Munde said.

    

Similarly,  Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, led by Lok Sabha member Raju Shetty, will also be a part of NDA soon, the senior BJP leader said

    

To a query on police booking Athawale over Indu mill violence, Munde said, "This is an attempt to silence the voice of opposition. We won't be cowed down by such tactics."

    

On reports of differences among the alliance partners over Madha Lok Sabha seat (where Pawar won in 2009), Munde said the issue would be sorted out amicably.

    

"The Mahayuti's seat distribution will be finalised by this month-end," he said.

    

Rashtriya Samaj Party leader Mahadeo Jankar, a part of the Mahayuti, said he wanted to contest from Madha, but "some people in the alliance have hatched a conspiracy against me".

"However, I joined the alliance because of my faith in Munde and will abide by whatever he says," Jankar added.

(Agencies)

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