Opposition stages walkout over aid to

rain-hit farmers

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Assembly saw noisy scenes on Thursday, when the Opposition demanded immediate relief for farmers whose crops were damaged by the unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms earlier this week.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole submitted an adjournment notice, which was rejected by Speaker Rahul Narwekar who said the issue would be taken up for debate on Friday.

However, an adamant Patole, with support from Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, NCP MLA Chhagan Bhujbal and Congress’ Balasaheb Thorat, soon had MLAs on their feet.

Bhujbal sought an immediate discussion on the issue as “nothing could be more important than providing relief to farmers.

Some opposition MLAs trooped into the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the government.

LOP Pawar criticized

High Drama

Highlighting farmer suicides in the constituency of agriculture minister Abdul Sattar (Sillod in Aurangabad), LOP Pawar 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 government for not comforting distressed farmers Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said his government would never leave farmers in the lurch, and added that directives have been given for “panchnamas” (loss assessment) to be carried out on war footing. He then asked the Opposition not to indulge in politics on the issue.

Speaker Narwekar attempted to continue with Question Hour, but Opposition members shouted slogans in the Well of the House. The opposition, led by Pawar, later staged a walkout after terming the Shinde dispensation as “anti-farmer”.