Extending support to the agitating farmers, NCP chief Sharad Pawar today asked them to continue the stir till their demands are met , drawing criticism from the BJP which claimed he was "provoking" farmers.
Pawar said cultivators have been forced to take to the streets as promises made by the government to them have not been fulfilled and maintained their agitation was not political in nature.
"I support the agitation as a farmer," the former Union Agriculture minister told reporters, even as he urged the protesters not to throw farm produce on roads and instead give it to the poor.
Farmers in the country are on a 10-day strike since June 1 demanding remunerative prices for their produce and waiver of farm loans. Farmers have been dumping their produce on roads as a mark of protest.
"Farmers have been forced to take to the streets to protest. Four years ago, farmers were promised support price of their crops which was 50 per cent higher than the cost of production.
"The assurance has not been fulfilled in the last four years. Loan waiver demand is also not new and the BJP had made this promise to farmers. They have been protesting to demand implementation of assurances," he said.
The former Maharashtra chief minister said people should understand that farmers have been forced to agitate and must lend support to their stir.
"They are unable to do farming in view of mounting debts which often result in suicides. All sections of the society should support farmers."
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