The disagreement between the state government and the Opposition over loan contract led to the suspension of the state legislative assembly and the council for the fourth consecutive day on Friday.
The Opposition leader in the Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, and Dhananjay Munde of the council led the Congress and the NCP demanded loan waivers for farmers questioning the BJP government about such forgotten promises made Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said, “The Congress and the NCP need to explain why farmer suicides continued even after the 2008 and 2009 loan waiver. Our government is not against loan waiver but it has to be at an appropriate time.” Patil argued, “The loan waiver has helped the district cooperative banks and not the farmers.”
Dilip Walse-Patil, also of the NCP, argued: “Farmers seek loans from cooperative banks. If funds are routed to the banks, it is for the farmers’ welfare.”The Congress and the NCP were unwilling to accept the explanation. According to Jayant Patil of the NCP, “We are not asking the government to help the banks. They can directly deposit the funds in the farmers’ accounts.”
