Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Feb 5: Congress leader and former minister B Ramanath Rai on Friday February 5 said that the BJP-led union government in the centre is looting the poor to fill the pockets of the rich.
Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan here, he said, “The BJP-led union government is working in the interest of five corporates. It is not bothered about the people in the country.”
Speaking on farmers' protest against the union government over the three farm laws, Rai said, "The BJP-led NDA government has failed to respond to the demands of farmers. Jana Sangh was the party of businessmen. Even the BJP now is a party of businessmen.
"Though the farmers are protesting against the three farm laws, government held 12 rounds of meetings only for namesake and failed to come to a logical conclusion. BJP government is adamant and following anti-farmers policy. The country has not seen such an inactive and negligent government," he said.
He also said that when UPA government was in power, it had agreed to form Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) over the Bofors scandal but the BJP government has not agreed to the form a JPC over allegations on Rafael. “NDA waived Rs 3 lac crore debt of corporates. When the UPA was in the power it waived Rs 72,000 crore loans of farmers. This is difference between UPA and NDA,” he said.
On the hike in petrol and diesel price, Rai said that countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan are providing fuel at a cost below Rs 50. BJP's hike in fuel price has affected the common man, he said.
Also, he slammed Swadeshi Jagarana Manch for remaining silent on increase in subsidy and price of cooking gas.
"As the union government disconnected the internet, the general public and school-going students are facing a problem. Protesting is everyone's right. The government is not allowing the 15 MPs to visit the farmers’ protest site. The government is insulting the farmers by calling them as Maoists, terrorists, and Khalistanies," he said.
“The regime of Indira Gandhi completed ended the Khalistan activism through Operation Bluestar which also resulted in her death. Now the BJP is claiming that Khalisthan activists are involved in the protest. If the Khalistan activists have emerged, it is the failure of the BJP government.
“Everyone should remember Indira Gandhi because she declared 'tiller is the owner of the land'.
“Though Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency, it has not harmed the backward classes or the poor. Through dictatorship, the BJP government has involved in anti-people policies,” he said.
He also said that the privatisation of banks is an indication of danger to the country’s economy.
Congress leaders Ibrahim Kodijal, Shashidar Hegde, Bhaskar Moily, Abdul Rauf, Lukman, Appi, Naveen D'Souza, Sahul Hammed, TK Sudhir, Prithvi Raj and others were present.