'Potato prices more important than referendum': NCP's Patwary slams Tarique Rahman's remark
“This is a politics of deception — inflating prices through one’s own people and then blaming farmers,” Patwary says
National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary has criticised BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman for his recent comment that ensuring fair prices for potatoes is more important to farmers than a referendum.
Speaking at a discussion at the party's temporary office in Banglamotor today (13 November), Patwari said, "A person who aspires to be a national leader is saying that the price of potatoes is more relevant than the referendum."
Yesterday, Tarique Rahman had said providing fair prices to potato farmers was more important than holding a referendum.
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"The government is planning to spend the same amount of money on a referendum that should instead be given as subsidies to potato farmers. Rather than spending billions on a referendum, it would be far better to build storage facilities for onions," he had said.
Accusing Tarique of political hypocrisy, Patwary said, "This is a politics of deception — inflating prices through one's own people and then blaming farmers."
"This kind of corrupt politics has gone on for the past 15 years and must stop. Future politicians must show restraint and dignity," he added.
Today's discussion, titled "July Charter: Farmers' Deprivation and the Question of Justice", was organised by NCP's affiliate organisation Jatiya Krishak Shakti, which has yet to be officially launched.
