Ready to discuss farm loan waiver with Congress, NCP leaders: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said his government was ready to discuss the loan waiver scheme for farmers with opposition Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders.

He was speaking in the Legislative Assembly after the Monsoon session began on Monday.

Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and NCP leader Ajit Pawar sought an explanation from the government about loan waiver announced for the cultivators.

"Loan of farmers should be waived immediately. The loan waiver scheme is time consuming and farmers' patience is being tested," said Pawar.

To this, Fadnavis replied, "Maharashtra government is ready to discuss loan waiver with opposition leaders. The opposition leaders should not forget that in supplementary demands, state government has asked for provision of Rs 20,000 crore, which we propose to use for the loan waiver scheme."

"There will be no time limit for such discussion. It can stretch for long hours but the state (government) will discuss the issue with opposition," Fadnavis added.

Dissatisfied with the reply, the opposition MLAs staged a walk-out for a brief period.