We’re with onion farmers: CM Shinde in Assembly

Assures NAFED procuring more produce from Maha farmers amid fall in prices of crop

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Amid reports of farmers facing difficulties due to drop in onion prices, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday told the Legislative Assembly that his government is with the onion farmers.

Speaking on the floor of the Lower House, Shinde said, “We are firmly standing by the onion growers in the state. NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited) has started onion procurement and that would push the prices up.”

“On our request, NAFED has increased its onion procurement and 2.38 lakh tonnes (of onion) have already been purchased from farmers.

If a particular area does not have a procurement centre, then it will be opened for farmers,” Shinde said on second day of the Budget Session of state legislature.

“There is no ban on export of onions. If required, farmers will get some financial assistance as well,” said the chief minister.

Earlier in the Assembly, Chhagan Bhujbal, Nationalist Congress

Party leader from Nashik district, spoke about farmers’ distress and questioned the Centre’s policy over onion.

“There is a huge demand for Indian onion overseas. But interna-

Will resolve HSC Board exam paper checking issue: Shinde

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday assured the Legislative Assembly that the state government will soon convene a meeting on the delay in checking of the Class XII higher secondary Board examination papers.

Raising the matter in the Assembly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ashish Shelar demanded the government’s immediate intervention. “The answer sheets of Class XII examinations are not being checked. This will impact the students adversely. As some students look forward to going abroad for further education, if their answer sheets are not examined on time, results will be delayed. Hence the government needs to look into this matter urgently,” said Shelar. tional traders have complained that the Indian government is arbitrarily imposing ban (on onion export) or lifting it. Hence, they are not keen on procuring (onion) from us,” he said.

Echoing his concern, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who is also a BJP legislator, also intervened in the discussion and urged the government to come up with a solution to the problem.

MLA Awhad’s protection from arrest extended until March 03

Thane (PTI): The Thane district court postponed the hearing on Nationalist Congress Party leader Jitendra Awhad’s application for extension of protection from arrest till March 03 in connection with the attack on a civic official earlier this month.

Four NCP activists were also granted bail by the court in the case.

Additional Sessions Judge AS Bhagwat ordered their release on a personal bond of Rs15,000 each.

Thane Assistant Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Aher was allegedly beaten up by NCP workers on February 15 after an audio clip in which he is issuing threats went viral.

NCP LEGISLATORS TURN UP AT MAHA ASSEMBLY WITH ONION ‘GARLANDS’

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

MLAs on Tuesday reached the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai carrying onions in baskets on their heads and wearing garlands made with the vegetable, demanding appropriate price for onion produce amid dip in prices. Earlier on Monday, owing to a low wholesale price of onions, the farmers stopped auctions at Nashik’s Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC). This was followed by a protest of the onion-growers association Maharashtra State Onion Growers’ Association against the government. The organization demanded that the onions be sold at the right price. The sale of onions at the auction was stopped as they were being sold at prices as low as Rs1 per kg or Rs2 per kg. Due to the huge yield of the onion crop, its prices are falling down in other states as well. Notably, onion is the main cash crop in Maharashtra and it accounts for 35 to 40% of the country’s total production of the staple vegetable.

Legislative Council Adjourned After Ruckus Over Onion Prices

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Legislative Council was on Tuesday adjourned for the day after Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve demanded a discussion on falling onion prices. The adjournment also meant that the Council could not immediately take a call on Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s letter to Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe seeking that Viplov Gopikishan Bajoria be made the Shiv Sena’s chief whip in the Upper House. Currently, Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MLC Anil

Parab is the party’s chief whip in the House. Danve, who belongs to the Thackeray faction, demanded that the Upper House discuss issues related to onion prices, but it was denied by Gorhe. This led to legislators of the ruling and opposition parties arguing and levelling charges against each other.

Gorhe, who too is from the Thackeray camp, first adjourned the Upper House twice but the ruckus continued. She then adjourned the House proceedings for the rest of the day.

Speaking to reporters on the

Vidhan Bhavan premises after the adjournment, Danve said, “The state government is trying to silence the voice of the Opposition. All we wanted was a detailed discussion on issues of crashing onion prices and farmers’ woes.” While contradicting Ambadas's statement, BJP leader and MLC Praveen Darekar said, “The Maharashtra government is in the favour of the farmers, but the opposition leaders do not want the house to run and walked out. Thus, the House is adjourned till tomorrow.”