Yashwant Sinha calls off stir against own government

BJP veteran Yashwant Sinha has called off his three-day-old protest at Akola in Vidarbha region over farmers’ issues, saying Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had assured him that their demands will be met.

The 80-year-old leader, who was detained during the protest but had resumed his sit-in after he was released that night, said Fadnavis had spoken to him on telephone and he had apprised the chief minister of their demands.

“The CM has accepted our demands, but I don’t look at this agitation from the point of view of victory or defeat. Farmers will benefit,” Sinha, who has been sidelined in the party in recent years, told reporters, while announcing the decision to end the stir at the district police headquarters grounds. “Promise me that no farmer will now commit suicide,” Sinha appealed to cultivators who had gathered at the venue.

“The CM spoke to me. We had a good discussion. I apprised him about the farmers demands. He gave an assurance to accept the demands,” Sinha said.

The former finance minister, who has had frequent run-ins with the current BJP leadership, was detained while protesting outside the district collector’s office against the state government’s alleged “apathy” towards the farmers of Vidarbha. The leader refused to budge from the protest venue till all demands of farmers were met. Sinha said the government does not appear serious about solving the problems being faced by agriculturists.