Just two days ahead of the party’s rally against price rice in New Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari on Sunday came out in support of union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on the issue of inflation.
He alleged that prime minister Manmohan Singh was more responsible for the price rise than Pawar.
“I agree that it is the responsibility of the food and civil supplies ministry (held by Pawar) to curb inflation. But at the same time, it is the responsibility of the finance and commerce ministries too. I do not hesitate in seeking Pawar’s resignation, but as the head of the cabinet how can the prime mister escape from his responsibility? He is a great economist, and I respect him. But his bad governance and wrong economic policies are the reasons for inflation,” said Gadkari.
Interestingly, Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) too had said that inflation was a collective responsibility and no individual could be blamed for it.
Gadkari alleged that there was a racket behind rotten food grains in the government godowns.
“The food grains in government godowns are rotting as there is no maintenance. These grains are bought by distillery owners who produce liquor from them. I suspect there is be a racket,” he said.
Gadkari has also alleged that the government has kept mum on the 14 points he raised about inflation.
“They have not answered the questions. The government has made SC, ST, OBC and minorities — which constitute 75% of the population — poor through its wrong economic policies. We will fight against their policies on the street,” he said.
The BJP rally at Ram Leela Maidan in New Delhi is on April 21. “We will present the president a memorandum against price rice signed by 10 crore people. Other parties too have assured us support on the issue. If they want to join us in the protest, I will be happy,” said Gadkari.
