The Hindu : National : Mulayam Singh asks partymen to exercise restraint

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Mulayam Singh asks partymen to exercise restraint

He demands complete loan waiver for farmers all over the country

Mumbai/New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief and United National Progressive Alliance chairman Mulayam Singh on Sunday condemned the attack by activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on his party workers before a UNPA rally in Mumbai, but appealed to his party men not to resort to violence.

Mr. Singh criticised the Maharashtra government and State Home Minister R.R. Patil for the incident.

Without naming MNS leader Raj Thackeray or the party, he said, “Some people don’t have any status in politics, but are trying to gain publicity by resorting to violence.”

Addressing the rally, Mr. Singh demanded a complete loan waiver for farmers all over the country and sought a minimum support price of Rs. 1,450 per quintal of wheat and Rs. 1,500 for a quintal of rice.

He criticised Union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar for importing wheat at a higher price when it was available at cheaper rates in the domestic market.

Talking about the alliance, he said, “It was not merely for the election but for the country’s sake.”

The rally was also addressed by the former Chief Minister of Haryana, Omprakash Chautala, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, the former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Babulal Marandi, and UNPA convenor Chandrababu Naidu.

All the speakers attacked the State and Central governments for the farmers’ plight, especially in connection with the suicides.

Mr. Chautala lamented that big corporations were entering the retail sector as a result of the Centre’s policies. “If big companies start selling vegetables, then where will the small vendors go,” he asked.

Mr. Naidu took potshots at Sharad Pawar and other Union Ministers from Maharashtra, pointing out farmers were committing suicide in large numbers in their State.

Shiv Sena protest

In New Delhi, the Shiv Sena demanded the immediate arrest of Mr. Raj Thackeray, saying his remarks on “Chatt Puja’ have “hurt the religious sentiments” of the people of Bihar.

Sena activists staged a demonstration to protest against Mr. Thackeray’s comments and said if the MNS chief was not arrested, it would not augur well for the future of the country.

“Mr. Raj Thackeray has hurt the religious sentiments of the people of Bihar, which is an unforgivable offence,” Shiv Sena north India chief Jai Bhagwan Goel said, addressing the demonstrators.

“The Shiv Sena does not differentiate between the people of Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh,” he said and warned against “attempts to divide the countrymen.”

‘A novice in politics’

Describing Mr. Raj Thackeray as “just a child in politics,” Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Sunday made light of the former’s advice to non-Maharashtrians saying it was better if people said, “Jai Bharat.”

Talking to reporters after a function in Mumbai, Mr. Lalu Prasad said Mr. Raj was a political novice.

Parochial, says CPI

The CPI criticised the remarks of Mr. Raj Thackeray attacking north Indians and celebration of their festivals in Maharashtra. — PTI

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