Prahar Janshakti Party chief Bachchu Kadu, who is leading ongoing protests for farm loan waivers, claimed there were “clear differences” between CM Fadnavis and his deputy Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar’s remarks came days after Bachchu Kadu led a massive farmers’ protest in Maharashtra's Nagpur. File Pic
Prahar Janshakti Party chief and farmer leader Bachchu Kadu on Monday criticised Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over his recent comments urging farmers to maintain “financial discipline,” saying his remarks “carry no weight” compared to those of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, reported the IANS.
Kadu, who is leading ongoing protests for farm loan waivers, claimed there were “clear differences” between CM Fadnavis and his deputy.
“There is a difference between the Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar. The Chief Minister has announced a loan waiver to be implemented by June 2026. If it is carried out before that date, all the better. As for Ajit Pawar, his statement holds no weight compared to the Chief Minister’s. He is only a cabinet minister and does not have the authority to decide this issue,” Kadu said, according to the ANI.
Ajit Pawar had earlier stated that the government would take a final decision on the farm loan waiver by June 30, 2026, urging farmers not to expect such relief measures repeatedly and to practise financial discipline.
Ajit Pawar’s remarks came days after Bachchu Kadu led a massive farmers’ protest in Maharashtra's Nagpur, blocking a highway to demand immediate debt relief.
Following the protest, the Maharashtra government announced plans for a farm loan waiver and set up a committee to draft recommendations on how to help farmers escape mounting debt.
Chief Minister Fadnavis said that the government would act on the committee’s report (expected by April 2026) and implement the waiver before June 30, 2026, in line with the ruling alliance’s election promise.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday accused state government over delayed loan waiver decision for flood-hit farmers and said the the Fadnavis govt was ‘mocking farmers’.
He accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of “mocking” flood and rain-hit farmers by announcing that the state government would take a decision on the farm loan waiver only by June 30 next year.
Uddhav Thackeray, while addressing a press conference, said that the Mahayuti government must immediately implement loan waivers to help farmers who suffered extensive crop losses after heavy rains hit Marathwada in late September.
"Farmers are protesting for loan relief. The CM (Devendra Fadnavis) says the decision will come in June 2026. Should they keep paying instalments till then? How will it benefit banks in June if not now?" Uddhav Thackeray questioned.
(with ANI and PTI inputs)
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