Wadettiwar: Farmers are ending life, but Maha stalling farm loan waiver
He accused the govt of neglecting agrarian crisis while approving Rs20,000 crore for Shaktipeeth highway project.
"Money is available for massive infrastructure projects, but where is the budget for farm loan waivers as promised by the BJP before last year's assembly polls to the farmers?" Wadettiwar asked while moving an adjournment motion in the Legislative Assembly. He cited official data showing that between January and March 2025 alone, 767 farmers took their lives in the state.
Of these, 200 cases were declared ineligible for compensation and inquiries in 194 cases remained pending.
The Congress leader attacked the govt for forming committees instead of acting on its earlier pre-poll promise to waive farm loans. "Before elections, they said they would write off all farm debt. Now they're hiding behind committees. This is unacceptable," he said.
Referring to an incident in Latur, Wadettiwar pointed to the desperation among cultivators.
"A 65-year-old farmer, Ambadas Pawar, yoked himself to the plough as he couldn't afford bulls. That is a glaring example of the state's indifference," he said.
The Bramhapuri MLA also criticised agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate for allegedly calling farmers 'beggars' and took exception to former minister Babanrao Lonikar's derogatory remarks. "This govt has not even ensured remunerative prices for cotton and soybean. Even the minimum support price promises remain unfulfilled," he said.
With assembly Speaker rejecting the adjournment motion, opposition members staged a walkout in protest. "The govt is insensitive. It refuses to even discuss farm crisis," Wadettiwar said while leading the boycott.
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