Reddy may get pat, Vilasrao flak at Cong CM’s meet
Andhra Pradesh could come for a pat on the back while Maharashtra could have to do a lot of explaining over the issue of farmers suicides at the Congress chief ministers conclave eing held at Nainital later this week.
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh could come for a pat on the back while Maharashtra could have to do a lot of explaining over the issue of farmers suicides at the Congress chief ministers conclave eing held at Nainital later this week.
Congress sources said that the Y S Rajsekhar Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh has managed the situation well on the issue which has drastically brought down incidents of farmers taking the extreme step.
Similar was not the situation in neighbouring Maharashtra whose backward Vidarbha region is still witnessing suicides despite a visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and announcement of a financial package. Karnataka and Kerala, which have also witnessed such incidents, are no longer Congress-ruled states.
The two-day meet from September 23, to be presided over by Congress president Sonia Gandhi with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and some senior ministers by her side, is expected to reflect on problems confronting the agricultural sector.
The issue of internal security would also come up for deliberation at the meet where Union home mShivraj Patil is expected to make a presentation. It could be double whammy for Maharashtra at the conclave as its record on prevention of terrorist activities could be called to question in the wake of the Mumbai serial blasts and the Malegaon blasts.
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A solace of sorts for Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was that the home ministry n the state is being handled by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. deputy chief minister R R Patil, who is a close associate of Pawar, is in charge of home affairs.The meet could also see a veiled attack on Mr Pawar for his role as Union minister for food and agriculture as the massive wheat imports have raised a controversy so also the rising prices of essential commodities. Finance minister P Chidambaram could also come for flak on the issue.
Union home minister Shivraj Patil is already under attack both within the Congress and outside over the growing menace of terrorism and Naxalism. The NCP, which just concluded its third National Convention at Dehradun, well realised that their leader could be under attack at Nainital and had chosen to pre-empt the strike by targeting the Congress for the plight of farmers.
Mr Pawar has been insisting that the Agriculture Ministry under him has moved heaven and earth to give a fair deal to farmers. The issue of setting up of special economic zones could also come up for scrutiny amid divergent views on acquisition of agricultureal land for the purpose.
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The conclave, could also witness strong pleas for waiving off the non-performing assets of the coooperative banks totalling Rs 8,000 crore.Download
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