Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday targeted the Maharashtra government over the farm loan waiver issue, alleging that distressed farmers were yet to receive any financial aid despite the government’s claim of announcing the “biggest” relief package, reported the PTI.
Uddhav Thackeray interacted with farmers at Karajkheda village in Dharashiv district on the second day of his four-day tour of the Marathwada region, aimed at assessing the hardships faced by cultivators following the heavy rains and floods during monsoon season.
He is scheduled to visit Bhusni and Thorlewadi villages in Latur and Pardi in Nanded later in the day.
Last month, the Devendra Fadnavis-led government announced a Rs 31,628-crore relief package for farmers whose crops were damaged across 68.7 lakh hectares in 29 districts during the August–September deluge. The Chief Minister had described it as an “unprecedented effort” by the state to stand by farmers in their time of crisis.
However, Uddhav Thackeray claimed that no assistance had yet reached the intended beneficiaries.
“Earlier, the ruling parties asked women about the benefits of the Ladki Bahin scheme. Why aren’t they asking farmers what they’ve received from this so-called biggest relief package?” he questioned, according to the PTI.
“They are not asking because nothing has been delivered. The package was merely announced. I’ll be the happiest man if farmers actually get their compensation,” he added.
Thackeray also played an old audio clip purportedly featuring Fadnavis promising a loan waiver if the Mahayuti alliance came to power.
Responding to criticism from ruling leaders that he was being sarcastic, Thackeray said,
“Is demanding a loan waiver and Rs 50,000 per hectare in compensation for farmers a taunt? When my government was in power, we implemented a loan waiver without boasting about it,” the news agency reported.
In a veiled swipe at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Thackeray said, “They say I stepped out of my home because of farmers’ issues. But who are they to question me when they keep travelling to Delhi to bow for power? Our Chief Minister is neglecting Maharashtra’s farmers while visiting Bihar.”
Countering criticism that he governed remotely during his tenure as Chief Minister, Thackeray said, “Yes, I worked from home, but during that time I implemented the loan waiver, introduced Shiv Bhojan Thali and several welfare schemes. They should instead ask themselves why the farmers are now angry with them,” the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)