Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshvardhan Sapkal on Wednesday, 15 July declared that farmers across the country will not relent until the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government is removed from power. Speaking at a farmers' convention in Vaijapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Sapkal launched a sharp attack on both the state and central administrations over what he described as a deepening agrarian crisis.

Sapkal's Core Accusations Against the BJP Government

Addressing a gathering of farmers and party workers, Sapkal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of maintaining a 'stony silence' on critical issues facing ordinary citizens, including agrarian distress, rising inflation, and unemployment. He asserted that the agricultural sector has been pushed into a historic crisis over the last 12 years.

'Since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India, our farmers have been pushed into deep distress. Cultivation costs have skyrocketed, farmer suicides are rising, and fair prices for agricultural produce remain a distant dream. By surrendering to foreign interests like the United States, the Prime Minister has put both Indian farmers and our sovereign agricultural security in severe jeopardy,' Sapkal said.

Allegations of Ideological Governance and Fund Misuse

Sapkal alleged that the Union government is running the country based on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)'s ideological framework, as outlined in M.S. Golwalkar's book 'Bunch of Thoughts', rather than prioritising public welfare. He claimed this ideological orientation has come at the expense of farmers, labourers, and common citizens.

The MPCC President also alleged systematic misuse of public funds, specifically pointing to the Samruddhi Expressway and the Missing Link project as examples of what he called large-scale siphoning of state resources. He further alleged that the installation of smart meters amounts to a 'loot' of ordinary citizens, with the proceeds allegedly benefiting private corporates and the ruling party.

Ayodhya Temple Fund Controversy

In a pointed accusation, Sapkal raised questions over the management of donations collected for the Ayodhya Ram Temple. He alleged that there is no public accounting of 200 silver bricks donated by the Sindhi community, nor of crores of rupees sent by devotees. He further claimed that nearly ₹1,400 crore collected for the temple's construction has allegedly gone unaccounted for. These allegations have not been independently verified, and no official response from temple trust authorities was available at the time of publication.

Political Context and What Comes Next

The Vaijapur convention comes amid growing farmer discontent in Maharashtra, a state where agrarian distress — particularly in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions — has historically shaped electoral outcomes. This is not the first time the Congress has sought to mobilise farmer sentiment ahead of state polls; the party has consistently placed rural welfare at the centre of its Maharashtra campaign strategy.

With the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in power at the state level and the Congress looking to consolidate opposition ground, the farmers' convention signals an intensified push by the Indian National Congress (INC) to frame the next electoral contest around agrarian issues. How the ruling alliance responds to these allegations — particularly on smart meters and rural pricing — is likely to shape the political narrative in the months ahead.