Shiv Sena beats drum for state farmers

Mumbai: In a bid to ensure the state government’s loan waiver reaches all distressed farmers, the Shiv Sena will beat drums in front of district banks on Monday

The party will also put up a list of the names of farmers who are entitled to the waiver on the banks’ notice boards. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray decided to carry out these peculiar moves in a meeting on Thursday.

Claiming credit for the loan waiver, Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam, who is also the state environment minister, said its implementation has not yet begun.

“After our efforts, 34 lakh farmers got a loan waiver, but none of them have received any money in reality. The banks otherwise harass farmers for recovery of loans. In the same manner, we are going to go to the banks’ doorstep to recover the loan waiver given to the farmers.

Sena workers will also put up a list of farmers who are entitled to the loan waiver and ensure that they get the money. We will beat drums before the banks,” Mr Kadam told reporters.

Shiv Sena workers will also open a help desk before every district bank to help eligible farmers complete the necessary paper work to claim the loan waiver.

Thursday’s meeting is significant, as the state Assembly session will begin at the end of this month. The sources said Mr Thackeray has chalked out strategy to a corner the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the farmer issue.

Mr Thackeray will embark on a tour of the state from July 9 to check if farmers have benefited from the loan waiver. He said that he would speak with the farmers to understand their issues and help resolve them.