Dhananjay Munde

The Opposition has taken a strong objection to the government resolution issued on Wednesday which said that only 50 per cent of the amount budgeted in supplementary demands in December should be spent. One of the supplementary demands of '4,282 crore was for the drought-affected farmers. The Opposition has said that the Wednesday’s GR means that even the provision made for drought-affected farmers will be cut by 50 per cent.

However, relief and rehabilitation minister Eknath Khadse said that the 50 per cent cut in expenditure is only for administrative departments and there is no cut in expenditure on relief and rehabilitation.

Leader of Opposition in the legislative council Dhananjay Munde said, “If the state government does not withdraw the GR and release the aid to farmers within seven days, we will take to the streets. ' 4,282 crore was sanctioned the legislature in the supplementary demands in December. If the GR is implemented, the farmers will get only half of the money.”

Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Nawab Malik also criticised the GR and said that the government has mocked the farmers. “The government does not have money which is why they have decided to cut down all expenses by 50 per cent. The BJP government is taking the state towards bankruptcy. They have failed to manage the state’s finances. But they should at least ensure that farmers, who are already distressed because of drought and unseasonal rain, should not suffer because of the government’s failures.”

However, Mr Khadse said that the Opposition is making baseless allegations and misguiding the farmers. “There will be no cut in the funds made available for relief and rehabilitation,” the minister said.