The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday was forced to demand loan waiver for distressed farmers in the state legislature after its partner Shiv Sena and opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party stepped up pressure on the government for the same. Fearing an isolation on the issue, BJP legislators in the absence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state assembly, entered into the well and also climbed on the podium in front of the speaker's chair to press their demand.
It was quite unusual that both ruling and opposition were shouting slogans for a common cause in the state assembly while members from the ruling and treasury benches in the state council also made a strong case for loan waiver to be announced by the government at the earliest. The state assembly and council were subsequently adjourned for the day.
Shiv Sena's active role both in and outside the legislature was quite visible as the party legislators and some ministers were at the forefront to put BJP on a defensive on the politically sensitive issue. Sena's aggressive posture comes a day after the party corporator Vishwanath Mahadeshwar with the BJP's support was elected as the 76th mayor of Mumbai. Shiv Sena also sent a strong message to BJP not to take it for granted for the survival of the state government.
Shiv Sena firmed up its strategy to corner BJP at the meeting held on Wednesday night and also this morning where there was a consensus that the time is quite opportune to embarass BJP especially when over 9,500 farmers suicides took place in Maharashtra in last two and half years while 117 in last two months. Furthermore, during January-December 2016 there were more than 3,000 farmers suicides.
Shiv Sena whip Sunil Prabhu told Business Standard,''Our party has taken a line to continue to demand loan waiver. The government will have to announce the same without further delays.'' He informed that the legislators are quite agitated on this issue and they are not in a mood to go slow but further mount pressure on the government.
Shiv Sena legislator, who did not want to be named, alleged that BJP should not weep crocodile tears.
Shiv Sena legislator and spokesperson Neelam Gorhe remined BJP that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Uttar Pradesh election campaign announced loan waiver. She said why it can't be applicable to farmers from Maharashtra.
Leader of opposition in the state legislature Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil led a blitering attack against BJP saying that its support for loan waiver was mere a farce. ''BJP was since beginning against the loan waiver but now has tweaked its stand after opposition mounted pressure. The government should immediately announce the decision,'' he noted.
NCP group leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar asked BJP not to play politics. ''We will not allow house to run until government announces decision to write off crop loan,'' he warned.
Leader of opposition in the state council Dhananjay Munde and former chief minister Narayan Rane criticised the government for not being serious on the issue. They also warned that the house proceedings will not take place till government declares loan waiver.
State finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who will on March 18 present annual budget for 2017-18 , said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already clarified that his government was not against the loan waiver but the decision will be taken at an appropriate time. ''The government has taken a number of measures to increase productivity and agri production. Besides, the government has not cut expenditure on irrigation,'' he noted.