Farmers’ issue became the matter of talk in the Vidhan Bhavan premises on Tuesday as Opposition members staged a protest on the steps of Vidhan Bhavan on the second day of the State Legislature’s Winter Session, demanding a complete loan waiver for farmers. Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, including Congress’ Vijay Wadettiwar, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party — Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) Shashikant Shinde, among others, gathered on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan and raised slogans.

 

They also showed banners and placards during the protest. Opposition leaders accused the Government of delaying the purchase of soyabean, which resulted in farmers selling the produce at Rs 4,000, well below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 5,328. They demanded a complete loan waiver for cultivators who had suffered losses. Opposition leaders are accusing that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is taking orders from Centre but he is not sending the report of total loss suffered by farmers due to crop loss during monsoon season to the Central Government.