The Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Parishad (Council), while initiating discussion on agrarian crisis, launched scathing attack on Fadnavis Government for its anti-farmer policies.
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Nagpur: Initiating discussion on the plight of farmers, the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Parishad (Council) Dhananjay Munde demanded total waiver of debts of drought-hit farmers, assistance Rs 25,000 per hectare for damage to crops such as cotton, paddy, soybean, oranges etc. “Even if Government is forced to take loans for providing relief to distressed farmers, the Government should go for it. We (Opposition) will not criticize you (Government),” declared the Leader of Opposition.
Munde further said that Vidrabha, Marathwada and some other parts of the State are grappling with famine and demanded announcement of relief to the affected farmers immediately. He sought the assistance under Rule 260 of Vidhan Parishad. Initiating the debate, the Leader of Opposition launched a scathing attack on Government for its anti-farmer policies. “This Government is running away from the issue of waiver of farm loans,” thundered Munde.
Reminding the BJP leaders of their promises made to the people before coming to power, Munde said the Government has failed to fulfill even one promise. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his ‘Chai pe Charcha’ in Vidarbha, had promised to give more than 50 percent rate to farm produce. But his own Government at Centre, in an affidavit filed in Supreme Court, has expressed its inability to give such price. He reproduced the copy of the affidavit in the House. “If the Government does not withdraw the affidavit, farmers would suffer a huge loss on permanent basis. For withdrawing the affidavit, the State Government should put pressure on Central Government,” demanded Munde.
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Thursday 09 Jan. 2025
“The BJP came to power by promising ‘Acche Din.’ But the price of cotton has come down to Rs 3000 from Rs 6000. The price of soybean, rice has been reduced as well. Farmers are dumping oranges on streets instead of selling as they are receiving meager rate than the expenditure occurred on production. This situation is harmful for State’s agriculture,” stated Munde.
The Leader of Opposition in Council further said that a total of 3100 farmers have committed suicides in the past one year due to drought, damage to crops and debts. So many farmers had never committed suicides in one year during the 15-year rule of Congress-NCP Government. The Chief Minister is asserting that the Government will not waive off farmers’ loans but will make them self-sufficient. But the Chief Minister had not toed the same line while waiving Rs 7000 crore LBT of traders. “Why didn’t the Government wait for self-sufficient traders instead of waiving LBT?” asked Munde while slamming the Government decision.
“This Government is making all effort to make ‘Sahukars’ free of loans instead of waiving famers’ debts, charged Munded and demanded the Government fulfill its promise of loan waiver and special package doled out before initiating the discussion.
