Opposition seeks special session for farm loan waiver

Mumbai: While leaders of Opposition parties met governor C. Vidyasagar Rao, Shiv Sena ministers met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over the demand to hold a special session of Assembly to discuss farm loan waiver. The Maharashtra Assembly will hold a special session from May 20 to 22 for the passage of Goods and Service Tax (GST). The Assembly is also expected to discuss issues faced by farmers.

Opposition leaders including Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Dhananjay Munde, Sunil Tatkare, Jayant Patil of PWP, Jogendra Kawade met Mr Rao, demanding a special session of the assembly to discuss the agrarian crisis. “If the government can call a session for passage of GST then it must hold a session for farmers too. Else it will be an injustice to the farmers,” reads the opposition leaders’ letter.

Opposition parties had boycotted budget session and held Sangharsha Yatra, demanding loan waiver for farmers. Opposition leader Mr Patil said, “We were raising the demands in the Assembly, but the state government suspended 19 MLAs of the opposition. Therefore we had no option than to go to people and expose this government.”

“We asked Devendraji to call a special session for farmers. Only because of Sena’s consistent follow-up, farmers issues are being solved in the state,” claimed Sena minister Ramdas Kadam. Mr Kadam also claimed that government is positive over calling a special session to discuss loan waivers for farmers.

“After our demand of purchasing all the tur dal from the farmers, the government started the tur dal centre. A provision of Rs 1000 crore has been made on immediate basis for the purchase. There are other issues of the farmers like loan waiver, compensation for hailstorm. A special session of the state legislature should be convened to discuss the issues of farmers,” Sena minister Eknath Shinde said.

Opposition parties have slammed Sena. “Sena leaders should understand they can’t be in ruling and opposition at the same time. They should quit the government if they are really concerned about farmers and hit the road with us,” said Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Dhananjay Munde.