On the second day of the Winter Session of Maharashtra Legislature, the Opposition accused the Government of not being serious on farmers’ issues. Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister, assured in Legislative Assembly to hold discussion on various issues related to farmers on Monday and Tuesday. Moving adjournment motion, Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of Opposition said, “The crops on 7.5 lakh hectare land are damaged due to untimely rain. This Government is insensitive towards this issue and not conducting panchnamas completely. Government is not keen on helping farmers. The condition of the farmers is so bad that some of them are ready to offer their organs to get the money. They don’t have money to run their homes. The Government has lifted the curb on export of onion. This has devastated them because of which onion growers are very distressed.”

 

Nana Patole, State President of Congress, said, “Farmers have lost their crops due to heavy rains. Cotton growers are severely affected as the crops got damaged. State Government should provide adequate compensation to cotton growers. We want the discussion on farmers’ issues today itself. We have not come here to create ruckus. We sympathise with farmers. The discussion today can save life of at least one farmer.”

 

Balasaheb Thorat, senior Congress leader and former Agriculture Minister, raised the issue of milk producers’ grievances while Jayant Patil, State President of NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), spoke on sugar industry. Outside the House, senior leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) protested and dubbed ruling alliance as anti-farmer. They demanded the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 14,000 per quintal of cotton and higher MSPs for soyabean. Ambadas Danve, Leader of Opposition in the legislative council, said “We demand proper prices for cotton, soyabean and onion.”