Mumbai: Contrary to the promise made by the Mahayuti alliance during the recent Assembly elections, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday announced that crop loan waiver for farmers will not be possible now due to the present financial condition of the state. He added that the government would reconsider the issue in the future after assessing its financial position.
Pawar explained that while certain promises were made during the election campaign, financial discipline was essential, which led him to present a realistic budget for the state.
“Some statements were made about the loan waiver before the elections. However, given the current financial circumstances, announcing a crop loan waiver is not possible. There will be no loan waiver this year or next,” Pawar said at a farmers’ rally at Baramati.
Opposition parties criticised the Mahayuti government for not keeping its promise of a crop loan waiver during the Budget session. NCP(SP) leader and former finance minister Jayant Patil said the government failed to fulfill its promise, pointing to the state’s financial issues.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also voiced his frustration, saying farmers were eagerly waiting for the loan waiver while struggling with high production costs and low market prices.
Interestingly, former minister and senior BJP legislator Sudhir Mungantiwar also questioned the government’s decision not to announce the loan waiver. He pointed out that the amount needed for the waiver, Rs 20,000 crore, was less than the increased salaries and pensions for government employees, which had risen by nearly Rs 30,000 crore in one year.
“We spent Rs 1,42,718 crore on employee salaries in 2023-24, and the budget for 2024-25 saw an increase of Rs 29,881 crore for salaries and pensions. Yet, we are unable to announce a farm loan waiver due to the lack of funds in the treasury. This is unjust,” Mungantiwar remarked.
