Debt waiver for farmers holds ULCRA to ransom

NAGPUR: A face-off between the Congress-NCP government and the BJP-Shiv Sena Opposition in the legislature on the issue of debt waiver for farmers is likely to delay discussion over a resolution seeking to repeal the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act (ULCRA). Both the Houses of the legislature witnessed an early adjournment on Tuesday following a heated confrontation between the treasury and the opposition benches.

Sources from both the camps said similar scenes could be witnessed on Wednesday when the government plans to resume the debate over the ULCRA repeal. “We will not let the government even touch any other subject on the legislative agenda unless it announces a debt waiver for farmers,” said Ramdas Kadam, Leader of the Opposition, in the legislative Assembly.

The Shiv Sena, it may be noted, is ranged against the scrapping of the ULCRA. Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde also took the Congress-NCP to task for making populist promises like debt waiver during the elections, but turning its back on them once in power.

Mr Munde also urged the government to take up the issue of loan-waiver before anything else. The BJP, however, is supportive of ULCRA repeal, but sources said it would be difficult for the government to resume discussion on the ULCRA resolution till the loan waiver issue saw a mutually acceptable settlement in the House.

The Opposition in both the Houses has not taken kindly to the absence of chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in either House. “How can the chief minister or his deputy RR Patil choose to stay absent for such an important and sensitive issue?” Mr Munde asked. The BJP leader demanded an apology from the CM for allegedly ridiculing cotton growers in Vidarbha recently.

The Opposition also drew a lot of ammunition from NCP chief and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar’s recent statement favouring debt waiver. “What is the rationale behind Mr Pawar’s statement? He is part of the government and expected to take decision and not make demands. But the government is not serious about debt waiver even after Mr Pawar himself has demanded it,” Mr Munde pointed out.