PUNE: Though the ongoing indefinite farmers’ strike was started by non-political parties, the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) is under the impression that it has been instigated by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Sharad Pawar.

The BJP started the war on social media and targeting Pawar on farmers’ problems and raising questions about Pawar’s tenure. It also asked why Congress and NCP did not solve the farmers’ issues when they were ruling.

Not only supporters but Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is also making statements that the strike is supported by NCP and Congress. Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil directly targeted Pawar and raised the question that what Pawar had done for farmers.

Pawar told media persons on the first day of strike that the farmers’ strike is

non-political. “Farmers started it but NCP is supporting it and our workers are also participating in it as farmers and not as a political party workers,’’ he said.

The sources within BJP said that it is trying to make farmers’ strike a political issue and start a blame game between BJP and opposition parties. If the political war in between political parties starts, the common man’s support will not remain with the strike.

NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade said, “Farmers are divided into various political parties. They are in saffron parties also and they can participate in the farmers’ strike. BJP is trying to make it political though it is started by farmers on their own.”

Kakade said that all political parties have given support for the farmers’ strike but no party brought their flags in these agitations except Shiv Sena. “The chief minister says that Congress and NCP workers are holding agitations but is ignoring Shiv Sena workers who are using official party flags. Why CM is not daring to make allegations against Shiv Sena,” he added.

BLAME GAME
An NCP leader sarcastically said that if there is any strike or any disaster,  it is a common practice to link them with Sharad Pawar.