Maharashtra: Yashwant Sinha detained, released, says won't 'go home'

Former Minister of External affairs and senior Bhartiya Janta Party leader, Yashwant Sinha was detained by police in Maharashtra's Akola last evening while protesting outside the office of Akola district collector. Mr Sinha, along with hundreds of farmers protested against the government's "apathy" towards cotton and soybean cultivators of the Vidarbha region; reportedly, he was released later in the day and refused to budge from his demands.Speaking to reporters, Sinha said he would stay put even if police allowed him to leave.

"I wish to tell the police, district administration and the state government that if we are formally arrested and released and they think that we will go home, then they are under the wrong impression," Sinha said. "You are seeing the mood of farmers now. We won't be responsible for what happens," the veteran leader said.

"Before coming to power, the BJP had promised to give 50 percent over and above the minimum support price (MSP). But after coming to power, the party forgot the promise," Sinha said.

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"Just as Indian soldiers carried out surgical strikes across the border, the farmers will also carry out a surgical strike against the government till justice has been done," Sinha said.

"We detained Mr Sinha and around 250 farmers outside the district collectorate as per provisions of section 68 of the Bombay Police Act," Akola district Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kalasagar told PTI.

"We are trying to convince Sinha that the government is sensitive towards farmers issues. We have told him that if he wishes, he is free to leave," district collector Asit Kumar Pandey told PTI.

Mr Pandey also shared that former Minister of Finance insisted on lodging FIRs against bogus Bt cotton companies. Reportedly, the government has already taken strict action and filed FIRs against six such companies, he said.

(With inputs from PTI)