Ajit Pawar wants Shiv Sena to join hands with Congress-NCP

Mumbai: Criticising the BJP-led government over alleged lacunae in its June decision granting farm loan waiver to state farmers, NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Tuesday made an offer to ruling ally Shiv Sena to join hands with Congress and NCP to form a fresh government, and grant farmers a complete loan waiver.

Mr Pawar even advised BJP to use the BMC fixed deposit of Rs 60,000 crore to raise funds for the loan waiver.

Referring to various conditions laid down by BJP for the loan waiver, Mr Pawar said, “The Sena should join hands with us and then, it will be easier to reach the magic figure of 145. We will then give a complete loan waiver to farmers.”

About the government’s struggle to raise money, he said, “If you need money, BMC has Rs 60,000 crore as fixed deposit. The BMC is running on interest of deposit. There
is no need to go to Delhi to beg for money. If banks can waive off thousands of crores for industrialists, why not for farmers!”

On excluding members from local bodies from benefit of the waiver, Mr Pawar said it was an injustice. He pointed at how army men were being omitted from the waiver. “You have kept out the zilla parishad, municipal corporation members from waiver benefit. You have also not extended the facility to jawans because they do not fit into grade 4. This is an injustice to them. The jawans guard our borders and should get the benefit," he said.

Questioning the government on a form to be filled online by farmers to claim the waiver, Mr Pawar said that many parts of the state did not get electricity or Internet connections.

“The CM said that the forms are to be filled online. But it is ridiculous. There is no Internet connectivity in rural areas. Also, the form is very complicated for farmers. It says that criminal offence will be registered against the Prime Minister if the information is false. Even a murderer gets another chance and in this case, farmers are not criminals,” the NCP leader said.