Uddhav Thackeray demands complete farm loans waiver in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday demanded farm loan waiver from the Eknath Shinde government stating nine farmers are committing suicides every day in Maharashtra. Mr. Thackeray, who is former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said that during the BJP led Mahayuti government, around six thousand farmers have committed suicides in the state.

Mr. Thackeray claimed that the financial aids, which were announced by the current dispensation, have remained on the papers. His demand came a day before the Eknath Shinde government is scheduled to present the state's annual budget on Friday.

According to Mr. Thackeray, since January 1, 2024, 1,046 farmers have committed suicide in the state. “There must be a complete waiver of farm loans immediately and this should be implemented before the assembly elections (in mid October),” he said.

Calling the monsoon session as the “send off” session of the Mahayuti government, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said that there is a possibility of the announcement of some soaps in the budget, but they will not save the BJP-led alliance.

Slamming the Eknath Shinde government, Mr. Thackeray said that the current dispensation has made several announcements but it failed to implement them. “The government should honestly inform how many announcements have been fulfilled in the last two years,” he said.

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said that the incumbent CM while taking oath had claimed that no farmer would commit suicide, but suicides of farmers have not stopped. “The CM is the only farmer who goes by helicopter (to his farm). It is also said the CM harvests a different crop on Amavasya and Purnima,” Mr. Thackeray said.