RPI Chief Ramdas Athawale is unhappy with the Modi government for side lining his party and ignoring the interest of people. According to him, smaller parties had played a vital role in the success of the BJP at centre and state but the saffron party has been giving a raw deal to them. Athawale had demanded a ministerial berth at the centre but they have turned a deaf ear to his demand. He also is eyeing a ministerial berth in the state government but it has been marginalising smaller parties. Athawale said the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has failed to keep his promise of sharing 10 per cent power in the state government with allies.
Athawale also had raised objections against the state government’s decision to ban beef. He had said the decision has a widespread impact on the livelihood of farmers who may find it difficult to sell the old cattle and buy young ones. He also added that beef traders have been rendered jobless after the amended law. The state government has failed to provide any alternative employment to those people who have been affected by the ban. He had taken out a procession of bullocks to the Collectors office to protest against the beef ban in Maharashtra.
“What was the need of banning the sale and consumption of beef when the slaughter of cows has already been banned? The state government is being cruel not only to Muslims, but even to those from other faiths who eat beef. We cannot allow this,” said Athawale.
The President recently gave assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act. While the old law, notified in 1976, banned the slaughter of cows, the new changes prohibit slaughter of bulls and bullocks as well which has invited controversy. The act ignores the economic welfare of farmers.
The sale of bulls, bullocks for slaughter has been made a crime, which is punishable with a jail term of up to five years and a fine of Rs. 10,000.
“It now seems that this is more of an ego issue for the government than respecting people’s sentiments. We cannot let thousands of people lose their livelihood to appease a few. Is this not politics of appeasement?” said Athawale.
“Our party workers have spoken to farmers who do not seem happy with this decision. They are dejected because they will not be able to sell off useless cattle and buy young bullocks. On the ground, there is much more resentment than support for the government’s stand,” he said.
Athawale had demanded better representation for RPI leaders in the state cabinet.
“Out of the 10 per cent, the RPI should at least get five per cent share. There should be ministers representing our parties in the government. The CM has failed to keep his word until now. We will not let him go back on his words,” he said.
Athawale had also threatened to launch a protest against those restaurants in the state that do not serve Maharashtrian cuisine.
“It is necessary for restaurant owners to understand the importance of traditional Marathi cuisine in our state. Hotels today serve all kinds of food except traditional food items. This is not right. I will speak to the restaurant owners about this and hope they will start respecting the sentiments of Marathi people” said Athawale.
“If, within 15 days the restaurant owners do not meet our demands, we will start a sustained and intense agitation against the hotel owners in this regard,” he said.
