Pune: NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar initiated an indefinite hunger strike in the holy town of Pandharpur on Friday, demanding that the state government grant an unconditional loan waiver to all farmers across Maharashtra.
Political Tensions Rise Over Loan Waiver Policy
While the opposition and various farmers' outfits have raised objections to the current relief plan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the decision, asserting that over 40 lakh farmers will benefit from the waiver without any terms and conditions.
Addressing the growing criticism, the chief minister stated that a high-level sub-committee has been formed to oversee the rollout. "Along with myself, both deputy chief ministers and several other ministers are part of this sub-committee. We will closely monitor the implementation once it begins and resolve any challenges that arise," Fadnavis said.
Rohit Pawar Accuses Government of Misleading Farmers
However, Rohit Pawar, speaking from the protest site, accused the government of "playing with the lives of farmers." He argued that the official announcements do not reflect the reality of the scheme.
"The government is projecting a loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh, but the reality is that many farmers will not be eligible for that level of relief," Pawar claimed. "A specific condition has been included: farmers who benefited from the 2019 loan waiver will only be eligible for a relief of Rs 50,000 this time. Since nearly 48 lakh farmers received benefits in 2019, the majority will be excluded from the Rs 2 lakh bracket. We demand that the government remove this clause immediately."
CM Defends Fiscal Measures
Responding to these allegations, Fadnavis said that the cap was a necessary fiscal measure. "We have introduced a condition specifically for those who have consistently availed themselves of waiver benefits. They will receive a fixed waiver amount and must then clear their remaining dues. If we do not take this step, it will have a severe adverse impact on the state's banking system," the chief minister stated.
The protest in Pandharpur has drawn attention from various political quarters, with supporters of Pawar gathering to show solidarity. The hunger strike is expected to continue until the government addresses the demands.
