NCP warns state to expand agitation if demands on farmers loan waiver not met

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has signaled to the state government that it will expand its agitation demanding farmers loans be waived off to the rest of the state if their demands are not met. NCP President Sharad Pawar on Thursday held a meeting of top party leaders and office bearers at the YB Chavan Auditorium where a review meet was held by Pawar.

Pawar held the review meet after he and top party leaders recently returned from their trip to Marathwada one of the worst drought affected regions where a number of farmers are committing suicide due to lack of rainfall and failed crops. Pawar has been demanding that the BJP government in the state should provide relief to farmers by first waiving off the loans taken by the farmers and also waive off the power bills of farmers in such drought hit districts.

The NCP has said that the state should a direct interest in providing fodder and water for the cattle. The party also wanted to pay off the fees of students from drought hit areas. If the state government doesn’t fulfill such demands then the NCP has threatened not will it do a Jail Bharo agitation from September 14 in Marathwada. A similar agitation will be done on September 15 in Nashik. The NCP has warned the state that it will carry their protests to Western Maharashtra if the state does not heed to their demands.

The Devendra Fadnavis led BJP government has said that it won’t waive off the debt of the farmers as it is not the farmers but the banks that benefit and added that the state would instead focus on providing farmers cheaper seeds, water and electricity.