Replying to a question in the legislative council, Devendra Fadnavis said that action is taken against those involved in drug peddling and at present they are booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act
Pic/PTI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the state government will amend the existing laws so that drug peddlers are booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), reported news agency PTI.
The amendment will be done in the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature, he said.
Replying to a question in the legislative council, Devendra Fadnavis said that action is taken against those involved in drug peddling and at present they are booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, reported PTI.
However, those arrested get bail and again resume their activities, Fadnavis said.
"The government is amending laws so that these people can be arrested under the MCOCA. The amendment will be done in the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature," the chief minister said, reported PTI.
Oppn walks out from assembly over farmer suicides, delay in soybean payment
Meanwhile, the Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly twice staged a walk-out on Wednesday over the issues of farmer suicides and non-payment to soybean cultivators whose crop was procured by government agencies.
More than 700 farmers have ended their lives in the state in the first three months of this year, claimed Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar as he moved an adjournment motion seeking a discussion on the issue.
Speaking on the notice for adjournment, he questioned the BJP-led government's priorities, citing the sanctioning of Rs 20,000 crore for the Shaktipeeth expressway to link Goa with Nagpur.
"Every day, farmers are dying by suicide, and yet the government remains indifferent. From January to March this year, 767 farmers committed suicide. Of these, 200 cases were declared ineligible for aid (to the kin of the deceased) while inquiries in 194 cases are still pending," Wadettiwar said.
Speaker Rahul Narwekar, however, rejected the adjournment motion, following which opposition members staged a walkout, accusing the government of insensitivity and avoiding discussion.
Earlier, the House witnessed heated exchanges after the opposition alleged irregularities in soybean procurement. Wadettiwar claimed that soybean growers have not been paid for the procurement of their produce.
Cooperation and Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal stated that a record amount of soybean was procured this year from more than 51,000 farmers, and Rs 5,500 crore were directly transferred to their bank accounts.
(With inputs from PTI)
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