Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s decision to waive farm loans worth a staggering Rs36,359 crore is having a telling effect on his counterpart from Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis. From his hitherto somewhat stubborn position over the farm loan waiver issue, Fadnavis said on Wednesday that he had asked the State Finance Secretary to study the UP farm loan waiver model to see if it could be replicated in the State.
A day after the ruling Shiv Sena joined the Opposition parties used Adityanath’s loan waiver decision to mount pressure on the Maharashtra Government for a similar loan waiver in the State, the Chief Minister said: “After the UP Government announced a hefty loan waiver for its farmers, it is but natural that our legislators are demanding that a similar loan waiver announced in Maharashtra. Right from day one, I have been saying that we are committed to bring 31 lakh distressed farmers in the State out of the debt trap and make them credit-worthy once again”.
“With regard to the issue of farmers’ loan waiver, our stand has been positive right from the beginning. Our Government has stated as much in its budget for 2017-18. ... In the wake of the UP Government’s farmer waiver decision, I instructed the State Finance Secretary this morning to study forthwith the loan waiver model of that state. We would like to know on what the UP Government decided to waive loans and where would it raise finances to bear the burden on the State exchequer arising of its loan waiver decision, “ the Chief Minister said. “We are also collating information about the loan waiver models of other states. I have also asked the Finance Secretary to prepare estimates of the burden arising out of the loan waiver,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis said that his government had written to the Centre seeking financial assistance to help the distressed farmers in the State. “Supposing we do not get financial assistance from the Centre, we have drawn alternative plans to provide relief to the distressed farmers. I would like to assure this house that our stand is sincere and we would like to help the farmers”.
Alluding to the Madras high court’s directive to the Tamil Nadu Government to waive agricultural loans taken out by all farmers, irrespective of their land holding, Fadnavis said: “The Tamil Nadu issue is a different one altogether. My stand is clear on this issue. Whether or not waive the farm loans is prerogative of the State Government. There is no need for a high court to tell us as to what we should do. Our Government is capable of taking such decisions”.
The Chief Minister slammed the Opposition parties for undertaking farm loan waiver issue, by saying: “They are going around the State in the name of Sangarsh Yatra. I am told their yatra ended yesterday. I do not want to comment on what they are doing. I wish them well”.
The Opposition members were not present in the Assembly when the Chief Minister made the State. The Opposition parties have been boycotting the House proceedings since March 22 when 19 Congress and NCP MlAs were suspended from the Assembly till December 31, 2017 for creating ruckus during the presentation of the State budget and burning the copies of the budget speech in the Vidhan Bhavan preemies over the farm loan waiver issue. However, the Maharashtra Assembly revoked the suspension of nine MlAs on April 1.
Fadnavis’ statement that he is looking at ways to waive farm loans in the State is a clear indication of the fact that has softened his position on the since mid last month, when he had slammed the two major opposition parties for indulging in “politics of loan waiver” to “cover up” the co-operative bank scams in the State.
In an intervention in the State Assembly amid uproar by the ruling Shiv Sena Opposition parties over their clamour for farm loan waiver, Fadnavis had said in the State Assembly on March 15: “We are not per se opposed farm loan waiver. But, the opposition parties are indulging in politics of loan waiver merely to cover up the co-operative bank scams in the State.... Will the Opposition give the State Government an assurance that once we waive farm loans, the unabated suicide endIJ”.
At that time, the chief minister had not given any firm commitment as to when his government would waive the farmers’ loans. All he had said was: While going in for farm loan waiver, we will lay emphasis on improving the standard of agriculture in the state. A delegation of the state government will meet Union Finance Minister and Agriculture Minister to press for farm loan waiver”.