Team News Riveting
Former Union Minister Sharad Pawar, who is also the tallest farmer leader in the country, is cautious while commenting on the on-going farmers’ protest against the farm bills.
The statement issued by him on the issue is well scripted and meticulous. For, there is reason behind Pawar avoiding to land into the controversy..
Pawar finally broke his silence on the ongoing farmers’ protests and said the Prime Minister and Defence Minister should intervene in the matter to end the deadlock between the farmers and the government.
“In my opinion, the central government should take an initiative and a senior-level minister should intervene. I don’t want to disrespect Narendra Singh Tomar (Union agriculture minister) but the Prime Minister or defence minister should intervene then the issue may be resolved. If it happens then those leading the protest should also look for a resolution,” Pawar told reporters.
Sharad Pawar has maintained maximum precaution when it comes to “criticise” the farm bills. It is because as union agriculture minister during the two UPA governments, he has supported the liberalisation of the agricultural sector. In fact, when the bill was passed in the parliament, he said that farm laws are well-intentioned but passed in haste.
Now, one can raise questions over the process of passing the bills, and Pawar, being in the opposition is expected to do the same. But as far as the content of the bill is concerned, he has opined very little opposition, even though many opposition parties including his coalition partners Congress and Shiv Sena have taken a 180-degree turn on the bills.
A few weeks ago, an interview of Sharad Pawar, in which he talked about the agriculture sector liberalisation when he was agriculture minister, went viral on social media.
