Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar demanded that the government completely clear the 7/12 records of farmers. FILE PIC
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Friday termed the Maharashtra government's announced loan waiver a "fraud", alleging that farmers will not benefit unless their 7/12 extract is completely cleared.
Speaking to the media in Nagpur, Wadettiwar said the government is misleading farmers with its loan waiver scheme.
"Unless the 7/12 is cleared, farmers will not get the real benefit of loan waiver," he stated.
The senior Congress leader further claimed that under the current scheme, the outstanding loans of the farmers would remain, making it difficult for them to access fresh credit in the future. He also alleged that the crop insurance scheme is benefiting insurance companies more than farmers, while cultivators continue to remain deprived of relief. Wadettiwar demanded that the government completely clear the 7/12 records of farmers.
Turning his attack to Maharashtra politics, Wadettiwar said there is a rise in "splitting politics" and a collapse of ethics in public life.
"It has become a trend to first elevate someone and then pull them down," he stated.
Wadettiwar also claimed that all is not well within the ruling alliance, alleging that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is "restless" despite being in power, along with his ministers. He accused the government of pushing the state into debt while focusing on power politics instead of public issues.
On the issue of municipal funds in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Wadettiwar accused the government of bias. He said development funds should be distributed equally, but the current regime is allegedly denying funds to opposition corporators, thereby weakening democratic norms.
He also questioned the ruling party's stance on "love jihad", asking why leaders demanding stringent punishment, including capital punishment, remain silent on cases of women's exploitation. "Is their mouth sealed when women from respectable families are exploited?" he asked, calling such politics "vote-bank-driven business".
