Uddhav Thackeray Seeks Complete Loan Waiver, ₹50,000 Per Hectare Aid for Flood-Hit Farmers in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday urged the Maharashtra government to announce a full farm loan waiver and provide immediate financial aid of ₹50,000 per hectare to farmers affected by heavy rains and floods in Marathwada and other regions of the state.
Demand for Farmer Debt Relief
Addressing a press conference, Thackeray said, “On behalf of farmers, I request Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with folded hands to make them debt-free. The government must immediately sanction ₹50,000 per hectare and ensure timely disbursal. Also, stop banks from sending recovery notices to farmers.”
He criticised the state administration for its slow and insufficient response, adding that ongoing rains have worsened the crisis. “The current aid of ₹7,000-8,000 per hectare is far too little. Farmers with destroyed crops have no way to repay huge debts. A complete loan waiver is the only solution,” Thackeray stressed.
Attack on MahaYuti Government
Thackeray lashed out at the BJP-led MahaYuti administration, alleging that farmers were still awaiting ₹14,000 crore in promised assistance from the past two to three years. He also recalled that even the farm loan waiver announced in 2017 during Devendra Fadnavis’s earlier tenure remained unfulfilled.
“Maharashtra should adopt the Punjab model and provide ₹50,000 per hectare to farmers. The destruction this year is such that losses cannot be recovered for the next two to three years,” he argued.
Pointing to his own record, Thackeray said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government had announced and implemented a farm loan waiver shortly after taking office in 2019. “During crises, we acted. If seeking justice for farmers is seen as politics, then so be it,” he remarked.
Farmers’ Anguish and Rising Suicides
Citing a personal visit to Marathwada, Thackeray shared a tragic incident of a 31-year-old farmer who ended his life with a debt burden of ₹2 lakh, leaving behind an infant just 15 days old. “The situation is heart-wrenching. Suicides are being reported daily, yet there is no concrete relief,” he said.
Thackeray also targeted CM Fadnavis over an interaction with a distressed farmer. He alleged that when the farmer sought clarity on relief measures, the CM retorted, “don’t do politics,” after which the individual was allegedly harassed by police. “What kind of democracy is this? Why chase desperate farmers instead of helping them?” Thackeray asked.
Growing Farmer Anger
According to Thackeray, rains continue to wreak havoc in Marathwada, washing away standing crops. Farmers are battling mounting debts and falling incomes, with no guaranteed minimum prices for their produce. “Fields are flooded, crops are rotting, and farmers are crying for survival. Their demand is simple waive their loans and rescue them,” he said.