State forms committee to look into demand for farm loan waiver
With local body polls set to be held within three to four months, the Maharashtra government has announced setting up of a committee to look into the demands of farm loan waiver. The move comes after former independent MLA Bachchu Kadu threatened to intensify his ongoing fast from June 16 by deciding to drop water intake.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Saturday wrote to Kadu informing him the same. 'A high-level committee will be set up on the issue of farm loan waiver within 15 days. A decision on the farm loan waiver will be taken based on the report. And a decision on staying the loan recovery from a defaulter and providing new loan will be taken by holding a special meeting,' said the letter, which was submitted to Kadu by Industries Minister Uday Samant.
Kadu has been on fast for the past seven days in Amravati district demanding farm loan waiver, scholarship for their children, monthly honorarium of Rs 6,000 for disabled persons etc. All political parties had extended support to Kadu's agitation with NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar calling him. A state-wide roadblock agitation was planned on June 15 as Kadu had announced to give up water from Monday.
Bawankule on Friday had met Kadu and dialled CM Devendra Fadnavis from the protest site. The revenue minister had said that the decision on farm loan waiver will be taken in consultation with the cabinet. The letter mentioned that a decision on budgetary provision for honorarium for Divyang people will be taken in the upcoming monsoon session of the legislature and other demands will be addressed by holding a meeting of chief minister and ministers concerned.
Earlier in the day, workers of Kadu created ruckus at the programme of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar demanding farm loan waiver. Pawar informed them that a decision has been taken to form a committee on all the demands raised by Kadu. As the protesters continued sloganeering, police used force and removed them from the auditorium.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress slammed the state government over the decision to announce a committee on farm loan waiver. 'Why was no committee mentioned when Mahayuti promised farm loan waiver in its campaign during Assembly elections? The government has no intent to extend the waiver but wants to merely survive the day. The Rs 2,100 promised under Ladki Bahin scheme have not yet been given. This government is misleading people,' said state Congress chief Harshavardhan Sapkal.
Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat questioned the need to form a committee. 'The government has lakhs of crore to construct highways but has no money for farm loan waiver. The government in the past has used this trick of forming committee to sideline the issue,' said Thorat.
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