Raju Shetty says that the party was disappointed with the BJP and its anti-farmers policies, and therefore decided to leave the NDA
The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana led by Raju Shetty officially exited the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday. The party said it has decided to leave the NDA as the BJP-led government failed to address farmers' issues. Shetty is a Member of Parliament (MP) from Hatkanangale, and his party has significant presence in the state.
Shetty said that the party was disappointed with the BJP and its anti-farmers policies, and therefore decided to leave the NDA. He said that they met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and conveyed the decision to exit from the state and central governments.
"CM told us not to take the extreme step and requested to remain with the NDA. However, we told him that it was not an individual decision, but a decision taken by our party's working committee. We have to respect that decision."
"Besides, we want to build the party at the state and national level in coming days. We want to work as a pressure group for the interest of the farmers. Therefore, we decided to leave the NDA," Shetty added.
He said they had supported the BJP in the last Lok Sabha and the state assembly elections on a promise that they would implement recommendations in the
Dr Swaminathan commission report for fair crop prices once it comes to power. "Besides, BJP leadership had also promised to implement pro-farmer policies.However, after coming to power, the BJP forgot all the promises it had made," Shetty told DNA.
"We had asked our people to resign from the statutory posts given in the state government. The textile co-operation chairman Ravikant Tupkar had already resigned. We do not want to be a part of this government now. Farmer suicides in the state have been increasing. There is huge unrest among the farmers. The government has failed at all fronts to address farmers' issues. We will continue our fight for the farmers and their welfare," Shetty said. He added that his party will neither join the Congress nor affiliate with any major political party.
"We will keep the same distance with the BJP and the Congress. Meanwhile, we will again tour across Maharashtra to increase awareness among the farmers," Shetty said. When asked about Sadhabhau Koth, the minister for state who was earlier a member of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Shetty said that Koth had already been expelled from the party. "We have nothing to do with Mr Koth now. He is a BJP minister. It is now the prerogative of CM Devendra Fadnavis whether to retain or expel him. We have no connection with him," Shetty clarified. "We are not typical politicians. We are here for the farmers," he affirmed.
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