Prakash Javadekar defends cutting of trees for PM Modi's rally

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday defended cutting of trees for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll rally, saying such a thing was done earlier too, but more trees were also planted.

His remarks came a day after opposition parties alleged that some trees on campus of Sir Parshuram College in Maharashtra's Pune city were chopped on October 14 for Modi's October 17 rally, which will be held on college ground.

"Every time we cut trees, we plant more. It is a rule of forest department," Javadekar told reporters in Mumbai. "And why is re so much fuss about cutting of trees for Modi's rally? Trees have been cut for rallies of ors too, and for rallies of previous prime ministers. I wonder why re was such awareness previously," he said.

On issue of farmer suicides in Maharashtra, Javadekar said, "We inherited issue from previous (Congress-NCP) government."

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"Farmers' suicides are happening only in five districts because re were irrigation facilities," minister said. He also hit out at NCP, blaming it for current crisis in Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank. " PMC bank crisis is a sin of NCP," he said.

Following discovery of an over Rs 4,000 crore scam at bank, which has deposits of over Rs 11,000 crore, Reserve Bank of India last month appointed an administrator over it, and capped withdrawals at Rs 1,000.

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On October 14 evening, withdrawal cap was hiked to Rs 40,000, with RBI saying that it will give relief to 77 per cent of depositors.

Javadekar also welcomed BJP's demand of Bharat Ratna for Hindu ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

BJP's Maharashtra unit on October 15 sought Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian hour, for Savarkar in its manifesto for October 21 state polls.

"We are happy that manifesto has mentioned demand that Savarkar and Phule duo (social reformers Savitribai Phule and Mahatma Phule) be houred with Bharat Ratna," minister said.

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