Congress asks Maharashtra govt to withdraw decision on counselling farmers

The party condemned the govt's decision to arbitrarily declare farmers as 'mad' and provide them psychological treatment

The Maharashtra unit of Congress has threatened to hold a statewide agitation if the government does not withdraw its decision to provide psychological counselling to farmers.

"The Congress condemns the government's decision to arbitrarily declare farmers as 'mad' and provide them psychological treatment," Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Ashok Chavan said.

The Centre and the state government have failed to provide adequate monetary compensation to farmers and this had resulted in them being pushed into a financial crisis and therefore the suicides are taking place, the former chief minister said.

"The government has ignored this fact (financial crisis) and instead issued a Government Resolution on providing farmers psychological treatment which is nothing short of declaring them mad," he added.

State government had on September 24 issued a GR that it would open counselling cells in 14 districts and extend them to taluka level with contractual employees.