Rohit Pawar Ends Fast After Govt Assures Talks
The minister further said the government remained sensitive to farmers' concerns and committed to finding solutions to their problems, noting that previous administrations had also implemented farm loan waiver schemes.
Mumbai: NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has called off his indefinite hunger strike demanding a comprehensive farm loan waiver after Maharashtra Cabinet minister Girish Mahajan assured him that the government would hold discussions on farmers' demands before June 22. Mr Mahajan visited the protest site on Sunday night and held talks with Mr Pawar, who had been on a fast along with 26 supporters, pressing for a blanket loan waiver and relief for distressed farmers.
Urging Mr Pawar to end his agitation, Mr Mahajan proposed a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior officials, including Finance Department Secretary and MITRA CEO Praveen Pardeshi, to discuss the demands in detail. “The government is very positive towards farmers. Had a letter been submitted seeking an appointment, the Chief Minister would have certainly given time. Before June 22, ahead of the monsoon session, we will sit together and hold a detailed discussion with the Chief Minister,” Mr Mahajan said.
The minister further said the government remained sensitive to farmers' concerns and committed to finding solutions to their problems, noting that previous administrations had also implemented farm loan waiver schemes.
Accepting the minister’s proposal, Mr Pawar agreed to participate in talks with the government but warned that farmers would launch a larger agitation in the Marathwada region if concrete action was not taken. “If the government fails to act on the demands, farmers will organise a protest in Marathwada,” he said.
Mr Pawar had launched the hunger strike on Friday last week, demanding a blanket farm loan waiver and the removal of certain conditions attached to the state’s recently announced debt relief scheme. He argued that the eligibility criteria set by the government was such that it would exclude a large number of distressed farmers from availing of the benefits.
The Maharashtra Cabinet had approved the scheme on June 2, at an estimated cost of Rs 36,585 crore. It aims to benefit around 56 lakh farmers by waiving crop loans of up to Rs two lakh.
Addressing supporters after suspending his fast, Mr Pawar said the agitation had been “paused, not withdrawn”. He also announced the formation of a committee comprising farmer leaders and senior political representatives to participate in the proposed meeting with the government.