Mumbai: The Opposition parties launched the Sangharsh Yatra in Chandrapur district of Vidarbha region on Wednesday, demanding complete loan waiver for farmers in the state. Leaders of all Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), participated in the yatra. Though, the yatra received good public response, many leaders left in a couple of hours.
State Congress President Ashok Chavan, NCP leaders Jayant Patil, Ajit Pawar, kicked off the week-long Sangharsh Yatra from Sindevaahi in Chandrapur. The Opposition leaders visited the family of Bandu Karkade, a farmer who committed suicide, as he was unable to repay the loan. On the first day, the yatra reached Yavatmal district, where Opposition leaders held rallies.
Opposition leaders reiterated their demand, seeking a complete loan waiver for farmers. Mr Chavan said, “The state government is insensitive towards farmers. It is not even allowing us to raise the demand of waiving off loans in the House.”
NCP leader Ajit Pawar also slammed the state government. “When Devendra Fadnavis was in Opposition, he said Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (murder charges) should be invoked against ruling party leaders over the issue of farmers’ suicides. But now he has forgotten all his speeches,” he asked.
The yatra started from Chandrapur with almost 50 members of the Legislative Assembly and several senior leaders participating in it. But when it reached Yavatmal, half of the MLAs had left.
