Senior Congress leader Vija Wadettiwar on Friday urged farmers hit by unseasonal rains and floods to celebrate a ‘Black Diwali’, even as Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the Fadnavis government give financial assistance worth Rs 1 lakh and waive off all their loans.
Senior Congress leader from Maharashtra Vija Wadettiwar issued a call on Friday to farmers hit by unseasonal rains and floods to celebrate a ‘Black Diwali, even as Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the Fadnavis government should give farmers financial assistance worth Rs 1 lakh and waive off all their loans.
Congress leader Vijay Vadettiwar attacked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for their “anti-farmer policies”.
“The help provided by the government to farmers affected by heavy rains is just a sham. Due to this deception, it is time for farmers to celebrate this year’s Diwali as a ‘Black Diwali’ as a protest against this government. All farmers in Maharashtra should celebrate ‘Black Diwali’. Everyone should turn off their lamps and protest against this government. I appeal to everyone to take into account the plight of farmers,” Wadettiwar said.
Talking to media persons here on Friday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray lashed out against the Fadnavis government and demanded complete loan waiver for disaster-hit farmers and demanded that the government must make an immediate deposit of Rs 1 lakh in the bank accounts of farmers’ accounts before Diwali.
“While I wish you all a happy Diwali, I remember the disaster-hit farmers of Maharashtra. Whether anyone else visits those disaster-hit farmers or not, Shiv Sena will remain with them at every step to ensure justice for them. This government is only cheating farmers and deceiving them. I have promised the farmers of Marathwada that we will exert maximum pressure on this government until their debts are waived off completely,” Uddhav Thackeray said.
“Even though I am in Mumbai, I am in frequent contact with Shiv Sena office bearers in Marathwada. Even though I will visit the place after Diwali, we need to see whether the farmers have received any help announced by the government at the taluka level or not. Also, our Shiv Sainiks have to do the work of providing them help.
Congress leader Vijay Vadettiwar displayed copies of two Government Resolutions (GRs) issued by the Fadnavis government to the public. In the GR issued on the October 9, the Fadnavis government mentioned concessions like land revenue exemption, loan restructuring, loan recovery moratorium and exam fee waiver for farmers affected by heavy rainfall. However, in the second GR issued on October 10, the mention of these concessions was omitted.
“The government wanted to present a different picture to the public and cheat farmers. This is the policy of this government,” Vijay Vadettiwar alleged.
“The proposal for National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) assistance to farmers affected by heavy rains has not yet been sent. Also, the government has not yet given permission for cotton purchase centres. Due to moisture reduction rules, cotton traders in Maharashtra will buy cotton at a lower price. As a result, farmers will be forced to sell their cotton for hardly Rs 4,500 rupees. Soybean farmers are also not getting a fair price. Farmers were told that they will receive financial assistance before Diwali. But the money does not seem to have reached their accounts. If you (Fadnavis government) feel even a little bit of shame, then you should not harass the farmers,” Vadettiwar said.