The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today plunged into pandemonium after ruling BJP joined the Shiv Sena and Opposition in their demand of loan waiver to farmers, forcing adjournment of the Lower House for the second day without transacting any business.
The House today witnessed three adjournments before being adjourned for the day.
Leader of Opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil raised the loan waiver issue soon after the House assembled this morning. Subsequently, protesting Shiv Sena and BJP legislators trooped into the Well of the House along with Opposition Congress and NCP to press for the loan waiver.
Amid uproar, as Speaker Haribhau Bagde called for laying of papers and calling attention notices, Vikhe Patil said it was not right to rush through the day's business when the entire House was firm on the demand for loan waiver.
Shiv Sena members raised slogans like "Shiv Sene cha ishara...Saat baara kora zalach pahije" (land records should be free of debt) while BJP legislators shouted "Jai Bhawani", "Jai Shivaji" and said farmers should be made debt-free.
While Opposition Congress and NCP continued shouting slogans "Karz mafi zaalich pahije" (farm loan waiver is a must) resulting in three adjournments.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was not present in the Assembly.
When the House re-assembled after the third adjournment, Yogesh Sagar (of the BJP) was in the Chair.
He urged Congress and BJP members who had climbed the Speaker's podium to go back to their seats.
"The ruling party, Shiv Sena and Opposition legislators are unanimous in their demand for loan waiver. It is up to the group leaders to deliberate on how it should be done. Loan waiver decision cannot be taken in the House. I appeal to all members to go back to their seats and allow the House to function," he said.
However, when the din refused to die down, the House was finally adjourned for the day.
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Meanwhile, speaking to reporters outside the Assembly after it was adjourned for the day, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar said that the Opposition will not allow the House to function till a decision is taken on the loan waiver issue.
"The fact is that the BJP-led state government does not want to provide any loan waiver to farmers. They are politicising the issue. We want the government to announce a loan waiver in this Budget itself," he said.
"If all the parties agree on it, then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should make an announcement. If the Prime Minister can promise a loan waiver in Uttar Pradesh, why can't the same be done in Maharashtra," Pawar asked.
On allegations that the Opposition's demand for farmers is backed by co-operative banks, he said, "They (BJP) should first understand that loan waiver in any sector ultimately benefits the people and not always the banks. We have seen it in the industry sector as well, where loan waiver benefits the industries."
Earlier, before the session began, Opposition members staged an agitation on the steps of the Assembly today, shouting slogans demanding loan waiver for farmers.
They also condemned the state government this morning for failing to take any concrete action against independent MLC Prashant Paricharak for his derogatory remarks against families of soldiers.
