Govt announced Bharat Ratna to Swaminathan but does not implement his recommendations: Uddhav Thackeray

Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that the government announced Bharat Ratna to agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan, but does not implement his recommendations, reported the PTI.

Addressing a rally at Shrirampur in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, the former Maharashtra chief minister attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that the government was lobbing tear gas at farmers who already have tears in their eyes, as per the PTI.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation to put pressure on the Centre for their demands, including a law on minimum support price, for crops and loan waivers.

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"The government does not implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, but gives him Bharat Ratna. Charan Singh (was also given) Bharat Ratna," Uddhav Thackeray said.

The Swaminathan Commission report talks of Minimum Support Price (MSP), among others.

Last week, the Centre announced Bharat Ratna to M S Swaminathan, known as the father of the green revolution in the country. It also announced Bharat Ratna posthumously to Chaudhary Charan Singh, former prime minister and farmer's leader.

He said farmers are marching toward Delhi for their demands, but they are not allowed to visit the national capital.

Farmers from Punjab faced tear gas shells - some of them dropped by a drone - at two border points as protesters tried to break past barricades set up by the Haryana police to stop them from heading to the national capital.

Police hurled tear gas shells, and the protesters hurled stones, at the Shambhu border near Ambala in Haryana. Tear gas was also used against protesters at the border between the two states in Haryana's Jind district.

Meanwhile, farmers from Punjab clashed with Haryana Police at two border points between the states on Tuesday, facing tear gas and water cannons as they tried to break past barricades blocking their protest march to the national capital, as per the PTI.

Police lobbed tear gas shells 'some of them dropped from a drone' and tried to disperse groups of stone-pelting protesters in the face-off that last several hours at Shambhu border near Ambala in Haryana.

Haryana Police hurled tear gas canisters against the 'Delhi Chalo' protesters at the border in state's Jind district as well. Water cannons too were deployed there.
Seven police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were brought to the Ambala government hospital. Some farmers are also reported hurt, the news agency reported.

(with PTI inputs)