Dhananjay Munde

The Maharashtra Legislative Council was adjourned for the day today after members of the Opposition parties created a ruckus over issues concerning farmers including the "tardy" implementation of the loan waiver scheme. Members of the Congress and NCP also targetted the BJP-led NDA government over its "failure" to extend the financial aid to the farmers whose crop was damaged due to pink bollworm infestation and hailstorms.

As soon as Legislative Council chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar called for the commencement of Question Hour, he was interrupted by the Opposition members who demanded a day-long discussion on the farm loan waiver. Following unprecedented protests by farmers, the state government last June announced a Rs 34,000 crore loan waiver for farmers under the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana (CSMSSY). However, the government has invited the ire of the Opposition parties who have alleged that the scheme has been delayed and failed to reach all the intended beneficiaries. Moving an adjournment motion, Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde (NCP) said the farmers are yet to receive benefits of the loan waiver scheme. Munde said not a single farmer in the 17 out of the total 36 districts in the state has received the money so far under the CSMSSY. "NCP leaders, as part of the party's 'Halla bol' morcha, have been touring the state to meet farmers. In the 17 districts I personally visited, I did not meet a single farmer who received money as part of the loan waiver scheme," Munde said.