Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the Maharashtra government will study the Uttar Pradesh model for waiving off farm loans to see how relief can be provided to farmers in his state.
Addressing the Legislative Assembly here, Fadnavis said, we will study how Uttar Pradesh will raise such a huge amount? His reply came as the Shiv Sena and the opposition demanded that Fadnavis should follow what Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath did.
Fadnavis said he has directed the State Finance Secretary to study how UP goes about the promised debt waiver.
“I’ve already instructed the Finance Secretary to study UP farm loan waiver model.We’re working hard to help our farmers since Day one of our Govt “, Fadnavis tweeted.
State Farmers losing patience
In fact farmers all over the state have got organized and are threatening a huge agitation in the state over the demand.
Three continued years of crop failure due to drought and unseasonal rains followed by demonetization happening just as crops and vegetables were coming into the market have broken the Maharashtra farmer’s back.
Farmer suicides have been going up consistently since 2015. Even in the current year, 2017, the spectre has continued. Tis matter is not agitating opposition leaders in Mumbai but also being raised in Delhi.
Question raised in Rajya Sabha too
The non-fulfilment of promise by the BJP-led government to waive off farm loans has led to 117 farmers committing suicide in Maharasthra , opposition Congress alleged in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Pramod Tiwari (Cong) said of the 117 farmers who committed suicide in Maharashtra, 46 have been given compensation and the cases of another 58 is under consideration.
Compensation claims of remaining 13 have been rejected, he said, adding that payment of compensation was an admission of the suicides taking place.
The deaths, he said, were not a result of drought but because of their bumper crop not getting the right price and the hardships caused to them by the note ban.
The case of the Tamil Nadu farmers
Meanwhile a a Division Bench of the Madras High Court headed by Justice S. Nagamuthu has directed the government of Tamilnadu to extend the waiver to all the farmers irrespective of their extent of landholding.
In view of the High Court’s direction, the State government has to bear an additional burden of 1,980 crore over the already committed 5,780 crore.
High Court gives directives to Central Govt too
However, noting that the court was aware that the financial situation of the government is grim, the Bench has said, “In this difficult situation, The Central government cannot be a silent spectator. It should come forward to extend help to the State to share the burden. We are hopeful that the Government of India will share the burden considering the unprecedented situation prevailing in the State.”
Since waiving farm loans to UP farmers – if they elect a BJP govt. – was a pre poll promise made by Modi to people of UP, it is to be seen how he balances demands of farmers of other states of India too.
Can the Central govt. be seen as being partial to one state, that too for political reasons?
