Now Vajpayee’s sops reach Maharashtra

Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee today asked the backward Dhangar community to be prepared for elections ‘‘any moment’’ now,...

Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee today asked the backward Dhangar community to be prepared for elections ‘‘any moment’’ now, while announcing several sops here.

At a rally here with party leaders Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde, Vajpayee announced drought relief measures, including a special Rs 50 crore aid package, and formally launched the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

He said the government would soon set up a separate national-level board for the community’s development. Besides, the PM said the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes would be headed by a retired judge, to be named soon. ‘‘It’s time for you to make an important decision,’’ he reminded the crowds and reminded them of the ‘‘feel-good’’ factor and the peace overtures.

Story continues below this ad

Among the sops, Vajpayee said the Centre would send two lakh tonnes of additional foodgrain, worth Rs 200 crore, free of cost. He also listed assistance extended to the state over the past few months. ‘‘My government doesn’t discriminate between states — to us, everybody is equal.’’

Having said that, the PM pointed out that his government had extended all possible help to 14 drought-hit states last year, but that the maximum help went to Rajasthan, ruled by Congress till November.

He also announced a Rs 6 crore package for pilgrim towns of Dehu, Alandi, Saswad, Vakhari and Pandharpur. Lakhs of pilgrims take the route once a year carrying the palkis of Sant Dhyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram.

Also at the rally, the Maharashtra Rajya Dhangar Samajonnati Mandal chief Prakash Shendge switched allegiance from the NCP to the BJP. This may turn out to be a major headache for the Congress and NCP as the Dhangars are dominant in about 100 Assembly constituencies.