Yashwant, Shotgun visit fasting Hardik

Manas Dasgupta

Ahmedabad, September 4

While the indefinite fast by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti convener Hardik Patel continues to get support from various non-NDA parties and disgruntled BJP leaders and other Patel organisations offering to mediate, the BJP government in Gujarat is yet to initiate steps for negotiation to end his fast which entered the 11th day on Tuesday.

Among those who called on Hardik, fasting outside his residence on the outskirts of Ahmedabad since August 25, were former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, and senior BJP MPs Shatrughan Sinha and Nana Patole.

Yashwant Sinha, while branding the BJP governments in the state and at the Centre as “insensitive”, said they were willing to take the agitation demanding loan waiver for farmers nationally.

Shatrughan contradicted his party’s allegation that Hardik’s agitation was a mere “Congress-inspired political stunt” and said he believed it had the support of all parties and other organisations concerned about the cause of the farmers.

“The cause of the farmers raised by Hardik had started getting national attention since the farmers are in deep distress and required government’s intervention. Unfortunately, the insensitive BJP government does not seem to be concerned about the farmers,” said Shatrughan.