Maharashtra Assembly: Opposition seeks discussion, relief for farmers affected by unseasonal rains; walks out
Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Ajit Pawar arrives at the Vidhan Bhavan during the Budget Session, in Mumbai, on March 9, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday with the Opposition demanding that the state government give immediate relief to farmers whose crops were destroyed in unseasonal rains accompanied by hailstorms earlier this week.
The Opposition members were on their feet when Speaker Rahul Narvekar rejected an adjournment notice submitted by the Congress’ Nana Patole on the issue.
Mr. Narvekar said the issue will be taken up for debate on Friday and urged MLAs to allow Question Hour to continue.
But Mr. Patole was adamant and was supported by Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, NCP MLA Chhagan Bhujbal, and Congress’ Balasaheb Thorat.
Mr. Bhujbal said nothing can be more important than providing relief to farmers and sought immediate discussion on it.
Some Opposition MLAs trooped into the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the government.
LoP Pawar criticized the government for not comforting the distressed farmers. Chief minister Eknath Shinde said his government will never leave farmers in the lurch.
Directives have been given for ‘punchnamas’ (loss assessment) on a war footing, he said and asked the Opposition not to indulge in politics on the issue.
Opposition members shouted slogans in the Well of the House even as the Speaker continued with Question Hour.
LoP Pawar said farmers were ending their lives in the constituency of agriculture minister Abdul Sattar (Sillod in Aurangabad) and asked what was the use of Question Hour if citizens in distress did not get relief.
NAFED has still not procured onions, and what the State government says is not being implemented on the ground, he alleged.
The Opposition, led by Mr. Pawar, later staged a walkout after terming the Mr. Shinde dispensation as anti-farmer.
