Farmers call off protest after state forms six-month panel to study demand
(From left) Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar chaired a meeting with the farmers delegation regarding loan waiver on Thursday. PIC/X/@CMOMaharashtra
After three days of intense protests in Nagpur, farmers demanding an immediate loan waiver have called off their agitation following the Maharashtra government’s decision to form a high-level committee to study the issue and submit its report within six months.
The protests, which had brought traffic to a standstill in parts of Nagpur, ended late Thursday night after a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, and a delegation of farmer leaders in Mumbai. At the meeting, the government announced the formation of a committee headed by MITRA CEO Praveen Pardeshi. The panel will submit its report by April 2026, after which a final decision on a farm loan waiver is expected by June.
Farmers were agitating over the state’s failure to implement the loan waiver promise made during the 2024 Assembly election campaign. “The government explained its financial position and said it cannot announce a waiver immediately. Both sides agreed to form a committee with a fixed timeline for review and implementation,” said an official present at the meeting.
The state’s finances are already stretched. Following massive crop losses due to heavy rains, the government recently announced a Rs 31,628 crore relief package — the largest in Maharashtra’s history. Additionally, the Ladki Bahin Yojana, under which eligible women receive Rs 1500 per month, has also put pressure on the treasury, with Rs 36,000 crore allocated for the scheme this year. Combined with development projects and welfare schemes, Maharashtra’s debt for FY 2025–26 has been projected at Rs 9.32 lakh crore, the highest in the state’s history.
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