Mumbai: Shiv Sena, a partner in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Maharashtra, indicated on Monday that it is taking a stronger stand on the government’s farm loan waiver scheme. The party’s leaders, including ministers, met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded complete loan waiver for farmers. Looking at the delay in implementation of the scheme and the government coming under attack from opposition parties, the Sena seems to be distancing itself from its coalition partner.
The Sena also held protests for complete loan waiver in parts of Marathwada on Monday. Meanwhile, the opposition parties too upped the ante over the delay in implementation of the scheme.
A Sena leader delegation including ministers Diwakar Raote, Ramdas Kadam, Dadaji Bhuse, Ravindra Waikar, Deepak Sawant, and Member of Parliament Vinayak Raut met Mr Fadnavis on Monday. Interestingly, on Monday itself, the government clarified that there would be further delay in implementing the farmer loan waiver. Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil said that there are almost 10 lakh bogus farmers in the state and verification of all claims for loan waiver is going on. He said the process would be completed by October end.
The loan waiver for farmers was declared in the last week of June and has not been completed though almost two and a half months have passed. Sensing an opportunity, opposition parties have started cornering the government over the issue. “We will launch a statewide agitation if farmers don’t get their loan account cleared by September last week,” Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) state chief Sunil Tatkare said earlier this month. The Congress is also planning agitations in Vidarbha and Marathwada for the issue.
The Sena ministers’ meeting with Mr Fadnavis on Monday clarified the Sena’s stand on the issue. “Farmers are getting desperate and this delay in implementation is damaging the cause. We will continue to hit the road for farmers, even if it goes against government,” said environment minister and Sena leader Ramdas Kadam.
