The Maharashtra government will announce loan waiver for farmers at an appropriate time, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said today as the Legislative Assembly witnessed an uproar from opposition parties over farmers' suicide in the state.
"We will announce the loan waiver at an appropriate time," Fadnavis told the assembly, after vociferous opposition members demanded that the government makes an announcement to provide relief to farmers battling the agrarian crisis.
Slogan shouting and noisy scenes by opposition led the House to be adjourned twice.
The Congress and NCP legislators also staged walkout twice, saying they were unhappy over the relief measures taken by the government for farmers.
Fadnavis said since his government came to power in October 2014 in the state, an assistance worth Rs 18,000 crore worth has been provided to the farmers.
NCP MLA Jayant Patil, former finance minister, questioned the CM's claim, to which Fadnavis said, "Farmers are facing crisis because of your (Congress-NCP) action during the previous 15 years rule."
During a debate on drought crisis, Revenue and Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse said the government has decided to waive certain checks before disbursing Rs one lakh aid to kin of a farmer who commits suicide.
"Farmers whose agri pump set is non-operational during drought, will get 100 per cent bill waiver," Khadse said, as he took a jibe at the opposition for not doing so during their rule in the state.
The government has decided to give free seeds for next sowing season in drought-affected villages, Khadse said, citing adequate financial support to Maharashtra from the Centre.
On Opposition's demand for enhancing financial aid to kin
of farmers committing suicide, Khadse said, "When we were in opposition and asked for at least Rs two lakh in such cases, you asked us if we wanted to encourage farmers' suicides by raising the aid amount."
"Despite giving Rs 70,000 crore loan waiver, why didn't farmers' suicides stop. Are you going to stand guarantee that suicides will stop after a fresh loan waiver?" Khadse said.
Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the loan waiver announced during UPA regime had a good effect and added "Had there been no loan waiver, there would have been more suicides."
"The largest number of farmers' suicides in Maharashtra were in 2015," Chavan said, countering Khadse's claim that the highest number was during the Congress-led government.
Leader of Opposition in Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the government should announce Rs five lakh to family of a farmer who commits suicide.
The government has announced a scheme, named after late Gopinath Munde, under which farmers killed in accidents will get Rs two lakh, Khadse said.
At a point during the debate, Housing Minister Prakash Mehta, in his enthusiasm to make a point, rushed to the Well of the House, only to be told by Fadnavais that he was no longer in the Opposition benches.
