Congress-NCP Opposition disrupts proceedings in Maharashtra Legislature

MUMBAI: The opposition Congress-NCP today mounted attack on the BJP-led government in Maharashtra Legislature over the issue of loan waiver for farmers' when they boycott the proceedings in the Assembly and their counterpart forced adjournment in the Legislative Council.

They also accused the Devendra Fadnavis government of pursuing the "Gujarat model" of governance and ignoring the agrarian crisis.

While the opposition in the Assembly boycotted the proceedings, their counterparts in the Legislative Council forced the House to be adjourned without transacting any business.

As soon as the Assembly began the day's sitting, Congress and NCP members stood up demanding loan waiver for farmers facing severe crop loss due to drought, hailstorm and unseasonal rains.

Shouting slogans, they stormed into the Well of the House, despite Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse saying that the Government was willing to debate the issue.

Though Speaker Haribhau Bagde said he was willing to hear the Opposition after the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil held there was no point in conducting a discussion since the Chief minister had already declared that he would not accept the Opposition's demand for loan waiver.

"Farmers' suicides are on the rise and ever since this government came to power, about 8 to 10 farmers end their lives daily," Vikhe Patil said.

Khadse, however, accused the Opposition of indulging in politics and running away from the debate on serious issues.

Vikhe Patil, who initially led his colleagues to stage a walkout, soon said they were boycotting the proceedings protesting the Government's apathy to farmers' woes.

They squatted on the ground floor of the Legislature complex and held mock proceedings of the Assembly accusing the Government of "muzzling the opposition voice."

Seeking to drive a wedge between the ruling partners, they raised slogan stating that in this issue Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray was with them.

Amid the din, the Speaker conducted the Question Hour, took up Calling Attention and held debate on the Right to Services Bill, which was passed in the Opposition's absence.

Meanwhile, the Legislative Council witnessed a slug fest between the treasury benches and the opposition over the issue forcing the house to be adjourned repeatedly.

Opposition Leader Dhananjay Munde (NCP) demanded that the government immediately announce a loan waiver scheme and a discussion held on the subject.

Supporting Munde, Congress leader Manikrao Thakre insisted that the Chief Minister come to the Upper House and take back his words that "the government will not waive loans of farmers."