New Delhi:
Sanjeev Baliyan, the new Union Minister of State for Agriculture who was accused of inciting the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in September that left over 60 persons dead, wants to turn over a new leaf by focusing on farmers' problems, rather than be bogged down by his past.
"I want people to talk to me about sugar or farmers' issues, rather than harp on riots. I want to leave the riots behind, and want peace to return to Muzaffarnagar," Mr Baliyan told NDTV today.
The BJP leader wrested the Muzaffarnagar Lok Sabha seat from the BSP's Kadir Rana by defeating him by a huge margin of over 4 lakh votes. He was among the Jat satraps who attended the 'Mahapanchayat' of community members in September, in which provocative and incendiary speeches were allegedly made in violation of prohibitory orders, triggering the communal conflagration a few days later.
The BJP, which stunned everyone by winning 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats falling in Uttar Pradesh, has rewarded him by including him in the Union Council of Ministers. "As an MP, I will keep an eye over the situation in that area. I will keep shuttling between Muzaffarnagar and Delhi. I will stay connected with the farmers of the district," Mr Baliyan said.
Muzaffarnagar falls in the heart of what is known as the country's "sugar-bowl", and he wants to address the problems being confronted by the industry. "I will go to my office tomorrow. I will look at all issues. But my first priority will be to focus on problems related to sugar cultivation. I want to look at long-term solution," the Union minister remarked.
He insisted that the troubles being faced by the cane-growers was not a localised problem. "Even in Maharashtra, there is a glut in sugar production. I want to work for farmers all over the country, and not just those hailing from Muzaffarnagar," he argued.