NCP will create awareness among citizens about CAA: Sharad Pawar
   Date :19-Dec-2019

NCP will create awareness
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Sharad Pawar, President, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said there are apprehensions among people about National Register of Citizens (NRC) and felt they should be cleared at the earliest to avoid further turmoil in the country. Central Government needs to allay the fears about Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the minds of citizens and help avoid further spread of protest in the country. As to Maharashtra, he hinted that NCP would create awareness among citizens so that they can make out the implications of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
 
The architect of three-parties alliance in Maharashtra that stormed to power, Pawar in a reply to a query pointed out that protest against CAA is not confined to one particular community. How can Government explain the protest in States that are excluded from CAA. This itself is indicative that entire community is opposed to idea of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Central Government should take note and take necessary corrective action, he said further. As we were busy with confabulations over formation of Government cabinet expansion, NCP was not present during meeting with President in New Delhi. Now that everything on Government front is settled, NCP would go to people of Maharashtra and make them aware about finer points in CAA and how it could affect them in future, Pawar said. Pawar was interacting with mediapersons on Wednesday at Deogiri on sideline of winter session of State Legislature currently on in city.
 
In a relaxed mood Pawar was at his satirical best while fielding queries and offered insight into the political upheaval in the nation and State in particular. To a querry, he said post turbulence in Maharashtra after three party Government was formed many Opposition leaders complimented him in Delhi, and those in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) kept a distance but were apparently happy. Pawar also acknowledged his respect for Veer Sawarkar and said a distance but were apparently happy. Pawar also acknowledged his respect for Veer Sawarkar and said he was always in awe of latter's scientific outlook but still differs with concept of Hindutatva articulated by him.
 
“Yes, many prominent leaders from the Opposition have desired to meet us and articulated their position but so far not many any one of them personally,” Pawar said when asked about meeting with sulking Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Eknath Khad-se. On the loan waiver front, Pawar informed about feedback from party meeting held yesterday wherein co-operative banks in Western Maharashtra reported that farmers, even those known for prompt payment have stopped paying the interest. This happens whenever statements about loan waivers are made and said he would be meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other ministers to work out process for benefit of farmers.
 
Further he said Central Government's empowered committee can take decision on waiving of farmers loan and they always have Rs. 30 to 35,000 crores kitty with them. The advantage with the committee is that as they are empowered for approval one does not need clearance of Union Finance Ministry. Since State’s Finance Minister Jayant Patil has gone to New Delhi for GST Council meeting, post former's return the State Government would work out loan waiver financial component for farmers. Pawar said Satara meeting was not exactly the turning point in State's assembly election but the writing was on the wall going by the attendance of youth and it was first indication that BJP’s support base has eroded.
 
The first campaign meeting at Nasik saw massive attendance of youth and each of the next meetings was replica and then on confidence grew about turn in the election this year. Off course he admitted that NCP could not concentrate much on Vidarbha and we have decided to intensify public contact in coming days. Local Congress leaders did put in hard work and both parties benefited by each other's support, he further said. He also predicted that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is going to sweep forthcoming elections in New Delhi as electorate is happy with changes that Arvind Kejriwal led Government brought to their lives. NCP leaders Praful Patel, Anil Deshmukh, Mahesh Tapase and others were present during the interaction.