Miffed farmers to continue protest

Mumbai: The farmers’ organisation have decided to continue their protests against the Maharashtra government’s stand of providing loan waiver of up to Rs 1 lakh, provided they were taken prior to June 30 2016. The farmers will continue to agitate despite the state government’s decision to relax the parameters for providing an initial loan of Rs 10,000 on Tuesday. The farmers’ organisations welcomed the state’s decision but said that the government is cheating the farmers as it has reneged on its stand of loan waiver for all. The farmers will gather before tehsil offices across the state on Wednesday to burn government resolution (GR) copy on loan waiver.

In the meeting on June 11 between the farmers’ representatives and the high-power ministerial committee in Mumbai, the state government had reportedly agreed to give complete loan waiver to all needy farmers.’ But the farmer’s representatives alleged that in the meeting on Monday, the state government changed its stand. Revenue minister and chairman of high-power committee Chandrakant Patil said, “The state government will try to waive off loan up to Rs 1 lakh which have been taken before 30th June 2016.” Farmers’ representatives have raised objections, alleging that state government cheated has them.

One of the core committee members, Ajit Navale, called it as government’s loan waiver a “farce”. “Our original demand was that complete loan waiver would be given to needy farmers. But that is not happening. The state government has come up with this new formula of Rs 1 lakh. It is not acceptable and our agitation to pressurise the government will continue,” said Mr Navale.

Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil had put forth government’s side before the farmers’ representative. The state government accepted the demands of changing parameters for initial loan; but the details aren’t yet finalised. The state government has come up with Rs 1 lakh cap for loan waiver. However, the farmers’ representatives have rejected the government’s formula and are set continue their agitation.