Nagpur: “The state government has utterly failed in checking farmers’ suicides during past one year as 3,000 farmers have committed suicide in the state. For this, not only is responsible the BJP but also is its ally, Shiv Sena, equally responsible, and so it cannot run away from its responsibility,” remarked Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president and MP, Ashok Chavan.
He said this during his Nagpur visit on Dec 2 while taking stock of the preparations for proposed gigantic Congress morcha at Vidhan Bhavan on Dec 8. Talking to media on Wednesday evening, he severely attacked BJP- Shiv Sena led state government.
Chavan remarked that last year after Assembly elections the Shiv Sena was sitting in opposition for some time. That time, Shiv Sena leader of opposition had demanded a package of Rs 50,000 crore for farmers in the state, but now as Shiv Sena is in power, it should release at least Rs 25,000 crore for farmers if not Rs 50,000 crore.
He reminded that Union Agriculture Minster Radhamohan Singh on Tuesday admitted in the Lok Sabha that not a single rupee has been given to Maharashtra so far, while on the other hand Maharashtra Agriculture and Revenue Minister says that Maharashtra is likely to get central assistance of Rs 4000 crore. It is surprising that the said assistance has not reached the state even in the beginning of the month of December, he pointed out.
According to him there is no need for the state government to thank for Rs 4000 crore central assistance which is nothing looking into weaker financial condition of the state. He stressed that in general the state needs Rs 15,000 crore for farmers’ loan waivers and Rs 10,000 crore for compensation to loss of crops.
MPCC president informed that on coming Tuesday, Dec 8, at 11 am a gigantic morcha would be taken out from Deekshabhumi to Vidhan Bhavan, here, in which Leader of Opposition in Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Narayan Rane, former MPCC president Manikrao Thakre and other senior leader of Congress would participate.
Through this morcha, the burning problems of citizens from various walks and their demands would be voiced, and after morcha a delegation of main leaders of Congress would hand a memorandum of demands to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Then the said demands would be tabled at the floor of the House for discussion and fulfillment during Winter Session, he added.
According to Chavan, the main demands include exemption of debts of farmers and comprehensive economic package, marketing and suitable price for farm produce, compensation to loss of crops, check on rising prices, cancellation of diesel price hiked by Rs 2 per litre in the name of drought, seized tur daal be sold through PDS at the rate of Rs 50 per kg, APL card holders be allowed cheaper ration from government, Maharashtra kerosene quota be restored, law and order situation in the state including Nagpur be maintained, government must explain its stand on social reservation policy and other demands, informed Abhijit Deshmukh, media coordinator, MPCC.
