Mumbai, March 12 (NationPress) Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar sharply criticized the Mahayuti government in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, urging for immediate elucidation on the stipulations of the recently declared farm loan waiver scheme, which amounts to Rs 2 lakh. During his remarks on budgetary discussions, Wadettiwar labeled the government's announcement as misleading and charged the administration with deceiving farmers by setting a September 30, 2025 deadline.

He posed several inquiries concerning the scheme's execution, including unclear eligibility criteria, broken commitments, and the escalating issue of farm debt. He questioned the situation of farmers burdened with debt exceeding Rs 2 lakh.

“If a farmer owes Rs 5 lakh, will the government directly deposit Rs 2 lakh, or will they require the farmer to settle the remaining Rs 3 lakh first?” he inquired.

Wadettiwar reminded the Assembly that the government had assured a “Clean 7/12” (total debt forgiveness) during elections, yet the current circumstances indicated otherwise.

He further noted that the expectation of a waiver led many farmers to halt repayments, resulting in increased debt due to accumulating interest.

Wadettiwar highlighted the distress of paddy farmers in Vidarbha, calling for a bonus of Rs 20,000 per hectare. He pointed out that the paddy procurement quota had been fully utilized, leaving farmers without buyers.

He also criticized the “double-engine government” for allegedly failing to secure sufficient support from the central government.

“The state submitted a proposal for Rs 29,781 crore to the Centre after heavy rains, and despite visits from central teams, the funds have yet to arrive. Why is Maharashtra being treated unfairly compared to Gujarat?” he questioned.

Wadettiwar accused the administration of prioritizing “favoured contractors” over the needs of struggling farmers.

He pointed out the irony of the government allocating Rs 500 crore for an “AI Agriculture Festival” at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) while three farmers reportedly commit suicide daily in the state.

He also raised concerns about corruption within the Tapi Valley Lift Irrigation Scheme, alleging that funds were being misappropriated through falsified beneficiary data.

Wadettiwar expressed worry over alleged misconduct in police recruitment in Beed, the deployment of controversial officials under CBI scrutiny in Ahilyanagar, and the recent recovery of Rs 91 lakh in counterfeit currency in Chandrapur.

“The loan waiver announcement is merely a betrayal. This government is occupied with safeguarding the interests of their ‘beloved contractors’ while the ordinary farmer suffers,” concluded Wadettiwar, demanding a transparent policy and urgent relief measures.