Mumbai, Nov 3 (NationPress) Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday accused the Mahayuti government of ridiculing the hardships faced by farmers affected by rain and floods in the state, demanding an immediate loan waiver.

Thackeray's comments came after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that a decision on farm loan waivers would be made by June 30 of next year. He urged the government to execute the loan waivers promptly, emphasizing the urgent need for assistance to farmers caught in this crisis.

Additionally, he announced his intention to visit flood-affected Marathwada for four days starting November 5 to evaluate the aid received or missed from the government’s relief package.

During the press conference, Thackeray remarked, “Farmers have taken to the streets demanding a loan waiver. The Chief Minister has promised action by next June. If a waiver is proposed for June next year, should farmers continue to pay their loan installments until then? The Chief Minister’s comment that immediate waivers would benefit banks is ludicrous. How can a waiver now benefit banks, but a future waiver won't?”

He also criticized the visit of a central team to the disaster-affected villages, questioning how they could assess the damage from the heavy rains and floods in Marathwada within just a couple of days.

“The government announced a relief package, yet we organized a morcha. Even now, farmers demand relief from their debts. The central team will visit for two to three days. After their assessment, when will a proposal be submitted? How can they comprehensively assess Marathwada in such a short time?” he inquired.

“The Prime Minister instructed the Chief Minister to submit a proposal for central government assistance. I doubt any proposal has actually been sent. It's a farce that farmers in Palghar district have received only two rupees regarding crop insurance compensation,” he claimed.

Thackeray reiterated that the government should act swiftly to approve a farm loan waiver. “The government has committed to a loan waiver by next June, and the central team is set to inspect damage in the state... this is simply mocking the farmers,” he alleged.

He emphasized that the government must heed farmers' demands for aid of Rs 50,000 per hectare.

Thackeray recalled that after becoming Chief Minister in November 2019, he announced a waiver of crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh. “We effectively implemented this scheme. The system and data remain unchanged. So why is there no announcement for the second phase of the loan waiver? People acknowledge our efforts. We placed no conditions and treated farmers fairly. Why is this government not doing the same?” he asked.