Sharad Pawar seeks farm loan waiver

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar will meet Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday to demand a farm loan waiver for distressed farmers.

On Sunday, the NCP chief, who is on a tour of drought-affected regions in the state, visited par-ched villages at Indapur in Pune. Mr Pawar said that he would request the chief minister to waive off farm loans. Once the new government is formed, it should immediately write off farm loans, he said. Ten days ago, the Maratha strongman had demanded that the government’s spending on individual cattle at fodder camps be increased.

A senior NCP leader said, “Mr Pawar has sought an appointment with the chief minister on Monday over the farm loan waiver, but the chief minister’s office is yet to confirm the timing.”

Mr Pawar said that the government has stored grain in vast quantities and, hence, there is no dearth of rice. The former Union agriculture minister will also suggest to the chief minister that as long as the state is ravaged by drought the government should supply grain to the people of affected areas.

The 78-year-old leader also said that the government should bring an amendment in the National Food Security Act so that drought-affected people can avail themselves of grain.

The NCP chief also assured the people of Indapur there would be enough water tankers to suit their demands. The NCP, with the help of the private organisations, is helping the drought-affected people of Satara and Ahmednagar districts by providing water tankers.

The veteran leader has been touring drought-affected areas since the poll had concluded on April 29, the fourth phase of the general election in Mumbai. The former chief minister had visited Satara district on Saturday.

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