Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday reiterated that a farm loan waiver scheme would be implemented before June 30, as he defended the recent fuel price hike during a public address in Satara.
 
Meanwhile, several leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — including Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, state BJP president Ravindra Chavan, and Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar — reduced the number of vehicles in their convoys as part of austerity measures.

Fuel hiked only after US-Iran war

Fadnavis defended the fuel price hike, saying prices in the US have risen by 51 per cent, in Singapore by 30 per cent, and in Pakistan by 200 per cent. In contrast, he said, fuel prices in India have increased by only 3.5 per cent  under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. “The increase was introduced only after the recent conflict between the US and Iran led to a sharp rise in global crude oil prices,” he said, as he urged citizens to stand united for nation-building.