Clear farmers’ claims: Sena to insurers

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has issued a warning to crop insurance companies that farmers’ pending loan waiver applications and crop damage claims should be cleared within 15 days.

“Enough of cheating farmers. In the next fortnight, the names of farmers who have been given loan waivers should be displayed on the doors of banks,” he said.

Mr Thackeray on Wedn-esday held a protest agai-nst crop insurance companies. The rally was taken to the office of a crop insurance company in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). He was also accompanied by his son Aaditya Thackeray, who is also the party’s youth wing chief; senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde; and other ministers and workers.

After reaching the company’s office in BKC, Mr Thackeray, addressing a gathering outside, said, “We eat food grown by these farmers. The rally is to support their cause and find a solution to it.”

Targeting Opposition parties, he said, “Some criticised this rally as a farce. They are the one who are useless as they did not resolve the issues of farmers.”

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar had termed the protest march a ‘nautanki’ (farce) ahead of the state Assembly polls, due later this year. He said the Sena was trying to play the Opposition’s role even as it remains in the BJP-led alliance in the state.