Uddhav Thackeray demand good, but late: Congress

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday demanded complete loan waiver for farmers in the state to which, Congress was quick to add that they had been demanding the same for the past one year. Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil demanded that the CM immediately convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.

Mr Thackeray was on tour in Osmanabad district of Marathwada which has been hit by severe drought. “I am unhappy with the government's performance with respect to the drought. However, it's time to help people in crisis and not blame the government,” he said.

Stressing on making farmers “free of debt”, the Sena chief said, “It is a good thing that the state government has decided to waive off interest on loans taken by farmers. But the burden of loans on farmers is itself an issue. The central and state government in consultation with each other should ensure that farmers are debt free.”

Mr Thackeray dedicated to the people the ‘Shiv Jal Kranti’ water conservation project in Paranda tehsil. The project covers 78 villages in the district. Taking a dig at NCP MP Supriya Sule over her recent tour of the region, he said, “Maharashtra has a 137-year-old history of drought. However, the previous governments failed to work effectively. Recently, an NCP leader came here in a big van on drought tour. NCP was in power for the last 15 years. Had it worked well, this situation would not have come,” he said.

Mr Vikhe-Patil welcomed Mr Thackeray’s demand but said that the Sena had realised farmers should be given a loan waiver a tad late. “The Congress and NCP have been demanding in the last three sessions of the state legislature but the Sena remained silent on loan waiver. Though they have realised it late, it is a good thing that they too are now demanding it. We do not want to play any politics on the issue. The CM should call an all-party meeting at the earliest. We can take the decision on loan waiver within 15 days,” he said.