Shiv Sena to target banks denying farmers loans

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has threatened to teach a lesson in the ‘Sena style’ to insurance companies and banks that are accused of denying loans to farmers. The Sena will deal strictly with those who create hurdles for farmers, he said.

“Several farmers did not get the benefit of the government’s crop insurance scheme. But we will make all efforts to help farmers receive the insurance amount. I have directed my party leaders and workers to gather data on this. The offices of all insurance companies and banks are in Mumbai. If farmers are denied financial aid, we will teach them a lesson in our Sena style,” said Mr Thackeray.

The Shiv Sena chief kick-started his tour of drought-affected areas of Marathwada from Sunday. He visited the fodder camps in Jalna district and also interacted with farmers.

Mr Thackeray said that it was Sena’s efforts that had helped secure the loan waiver scheme for farmers. “It was only Sena who fought for getting loan waiver for farmers,” he said.

Later speaking in Aurangabad, he also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stand by the Marathwada region to make it drought free. “Modi should stand with Marathwada the way Sardar Patel did during Independence,” he said.

“The blessings of state’s populace have helped you to return as PM for the second term. I now urge you to stand firm behind the farmers in their hour of crisis,” he said referring to Mr Modi.

Mr Thackeray also attacked the Congress and the NCP saying they failed to complete the irrigation projects in the state.

“The irrigation scam transpired when Sharad Pawar was Union agriculture minister. Had the NCP and the Congress ministers completed irrigation projects on time, they would not have been running on the streets today, begging for votes,” he said.

Drought-hit villagers march to Mantralaya

Villagers from 46 drought-affected villages in Jat taluka in Sangli district have undertaken a dindi (march) towards Mantralaya in Mumbai to highlight their plight. They are expected to reach Mantralaya during the monsoon session.

According to these farmers, they have been facing water scarcity for a long time and they have decided to knock the doors of the government with an aim to solve the problem on a permanent basis.

More than 100 tankers are supplying water to 46 villages in Jat taluka that are facing acute water shortage in the absence of any irrigation scheme. It was decided to supply water to them from Karnataka, but this was not implemented.

“Before the Lok Sabha polls, MP Sanjay Patil had proposed the extension of the Mhaisal irrigation scheme to solve the water supply problem of drought-affected villages. But there are still doubts as to when they will get water,” said one of the agitators.

The villagers have started the walk towards Mantralaya from Sankh village. Led by Tukaram Baba Maharaj, more than 400 villagers have participated in the march.

“We will not back off until the water supply problem of our villages is solved on a permanent basis,” said the agitator. The rally is expected to reach Mumbai by June 20.