Opposition steps up attack on govt for farmer welfare

Mumbai: Opposition parties have stepped up their attack on the state government over the implementation of its farm loan waiver scheme. Congress will kick off an eight-day-long ‘Jan Akrosh Andolan’ from Ahmednagar, an epicentre of the farmers’ agitation. Leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will meet on November 5 in Aurangabad and will hold a mega agitation.

The Congress has claimed that the farm loan waiver is not helping farmers but is being used to harass them and that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is lying to the people of Maharashtra

Almost one crore farmers have registered for the loan waiver, while 76 lakh are likely to receive benefits.

In the first stage, the government has shortlisted 8.40 lakh farmers, but many haven't received any money yet.

“This is a complete mess and humiliation for the farmers. They are being told that the state government is obliging them with the loan waiver. Actually, it is farmers’ right. But Mr Fadnavis, instead of coming clear on the issue, is trying to sweep it under the rug. We are launching an agitation against this," said Congress state chief Ashok Chavan.

Speaking about the NCP’s Aurangabad meet, Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde said, “Our districts heads of the farmers cell will meet and discuss the next strategy. Our leader Sharad Pawar has given a 15-day deadline for the mess to be cleared up. If the government fails to do so, we will hold a protest in every district.”