Current Govt Has Turned Farmers into Beggars: BJP’s Yashwant Sinha

Sinha, who has become a strong critic of the Centre, has launched a forum for “concerned” leaders in the country.

File image of Yashwant Sinha. 

(Photo: The Quint)

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who has turned a strong critic of the central government, launched 'Rashtra Manch' (national forum) on 30 January at Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. He said the body is for political leaders and others "concerned" with the prevailing situation in the country.

Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari and AAP leader Ashutosh and ambassador KC Singh marked their presence at the conference. There was also speculation about a disgruntled MP of the ruling alliance joining the forum.

Asked on Monday about others who would join him, Sinha had said it would be disclosed on the day of the launch but added that they would join the forum in their individual capacity to air their concern over the current situation.

At the conference, Sinha said that the forum should not be mistaken for being an organisation but a “nationwide movement” which is for the people and by the people. “All those who have gathered here from all walks of life connect on an ideological level since many pressing matters have sprung up of late which are troublesome for the public today,” he said. The former administrator reiterated that the forum will not turn into a political party in future.

The public is not concerned with routine annual presentations ie Budget or Economic Survey these days as the Central government has failed to deliver on its promises. But the most pressing signal these days comes from the threat that has in turn touched upon our democratic framework and its institutions.

Yashwant Sinha at the conference

“This is the Budget week and our Parliament is being disparaged during the Session. Does this bode well for our democracy ? Where is our Parliament heading?” said the former finance minister.

Sinha also urged that answers must be sought as to why the alleged allocation of cases to selected benches happened. He added that government agencies ranging from the Enforcement Directorate, the Income tax department, the CBI etc are being misused, especially by political competitors.

His address drew applause from the audience when he remarked that farmers’ distress is the biggest crisis one needs to take charge of.

“Farmers have been reduced to being beggars by the current government,” he remarked.

Other issues raised by him ranged from bank non-performing assets, staggering unemployment, lack of private sector investment, poor socio-economic indicators, and post-demonetisation effect prevailing in the country.

Taking a dig at the ruling party, he said the most leaders at the Centre are fearful, except actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha and himself. The former civil servant said that the “gathering is an affirmation that we have already freed ourselves from any sort of fear.”

Sinha, a former minister in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has often criticised the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a host of issues, including its economic policy and the recent judicial crisis.

"Whatever you do, I will not run away from my duties. Calling the youth of the country to join the movement," he said in a tweet.

The development is likely to be seen as an attempt to step up an attack against the government and to build an atmosphere against the BJP-led NDA in the countdown to the next Lok Sabha polls, scheduled in the first half of next year.

(With inputs from PTI)