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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony)...

Fadnavis writes off Rs 48,000 crore

Mumbai: In a clear indication that the Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to keep the state’s agrarian base happy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unleashed yet another massive populist measure. Hot on the heels of relaxing the eligibility criteria to ensure a blanket farm loan waiver, the Chief Minister announced a sweeping Rs 48,000 crore waiver on the pending electricity bills of farmers across the state. Addressing a ‘Krutadnyata Sohala’ (gratitude ceremony) organized by the BJP Kisan Morcha at Mumbai’s Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan on Wednesday, Fadnavis declared that farmers using agricultural pumps of up to 7.5 horsepower will see their historical electricity dues completely wiped out. The announcement was met with the traditional sounding of the Tutari and thunderous applause from hundreds of farmers who had gathered from every corner of the state. The Chief Minister framed the mega-sop as a necessary step to “wipe the farmers’ slate clean,” enabling them to write a new chapter of prosperity. Calculated Pitch The timing and scale of the announcement underscore a government that is boldly embracing populist economics to solidify its political footprint in rural Maharashtra. While Fadnavis maintained that these decisions were taken purely in the interest of the farmers—pointing out that the original loan waiver was announced when no elections were in sight—the political undertones were unmistakable. Taking a sharp dig at the opposition, the Chief Minister accused rival parties of running “political shops” in the name of farmer agitations without understanding the government’s genuine intent. Asserting his grassroots connection, Fadnavis proudly claimed, “I do not make decisions sitting in my house. I am a farmer myself, a man of the soil.” He openly defended the government’s recent move to strip away the stringent conditions attached to the blanket farm loan waiver, signaling that his administration will not hesitate to clear bureaucratic hurdles if it means putting money directly into the hands of the rural voter. Balancing Sops Even as he rained freebies, the Chief Minister attempted to balance the populist optics with a dose of economic pragmatism. He acknowledged that handing out repeated loan waivers is a symptom of deep-rooted agrarian distress, not a permanent cure. Pointing to the Rs 95,000 crore in aid currently being pumped into the agricultural sector by the state and central governments, Fadnavis outlined his administration’s shift toward an investment-driven agricultural model. He championed the success of schemes like ‘Jalyukt Shivar’ and ‘Magel Tyala Shettale’ (farm ponds on demand), claiming these initiatives have already empowered farmers to harvest multiple crops a year. Addressing the core issue of farming costs, he noted that the government already subsidises power to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore annually. By coupling this with a push for solar pumps and solar agricultural feeders, he promised that 100 percent of the state’s farmers would receive uninterrupted daytime electricity by the end of the year. Infra Dream Looking beyond immediate financial relief, the Chief Minister laid out a grandiose vision to permanently drought-proof Maharashtra’s most vulnerable regions. A staggering Rs 6 lakh crore infrastructure pipeline is being planned to ensure the next generation never witnesses a drought. Fadnavis detailed ambitious river-linking projects, including the Wainganga-Nalganga link, to divert excess floodwaters to parched regions. The state plans to construct 24 new dams and raise the height of 16 existing ones to ensure not a single district in Vidarbha faces water scarcity. Furthermore, massive engineering feats are on the drawing board to divert 200 TMC of floodwater from Western Maharashtra to Marathwada, and lift 275 TMC of wasted water from the Ulhas basin to quench the thirst of North Maharashtra and Marathwada. By marrying immediate, massive debt relief with long-term infrastructure promises, the Fadnavis administration is aggressively cementing its pro-farmer narrative. As the Yashwantrao Chavan auditorium echoed with whistles and cheers, it became highly evident that the government’s strategy of pairing mega populist waivers with big-ticket rural dreams is striking a powerful chord with the state’s agrarian voters.

Child's Statement Takes Probe in New Direction

A shocking double murder case in Badlapur's Juveli village has sent shockwaves across the city after the blood-soaked bodies of a woman and an Ola driver were discovered inside a locked car. The investigation took a dramatic turn when the woman's three-year-old son, who was reportedly present inside the vehicle during the incident, allegedly told police that "the driver uncle killed my mother." However, the circumstances surrounding the death of the Ola driver remain unclear, with investigators yet to determine whether he was murdered by another person or died by suicide.

 

The deceased have been identified as Manisha Bhosale, a resident of the Juveli village area in Badlapur, and Ganesh Jyotiba Shinde, an Ola driver and resident of Ghatkopar. According to preliminary findings, both victims sustained injuries caused by a sharp weapon, leading police to suspect that the case involves a brutal double homicide.

 

Police rushed to the spot near Juveli village after receiving information about two bodies inside a car. A forensic team was also called to the scene, and efforts to collect and examine evidence are currently underway.

 

One of the most disturbing aspects of the case is that Manisha Bhosale's three-year-old son was allegedly inside the car when the incident took place. Preliminary information suggests that the child informed investigators that his mother had been killed by the "driver uncle." Despite this statement, authorities have not yet established how Ola driver Ganesh Jyotiba Shinde died. It remains uncertain whether he was killed by someone else or whether he took his own life following the alleged attack.

 

Investigators have further revealed that the woman and the Ola driver had arrived in Badlapur in the Ola vehicle. Police are now trying to determine where they had travelled from, the nature of their relationship, whether any dispute had occurred between them, and what motive may have led to the incident.

 

While Speaking to, The Perfect Voice, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Gore said that the two individuals had reportedly been in contact with each other for the past three to four months. He stated that investigators are examining whether an altercation between them may have led to the Ola driver allegedly killing the woman before taking his own life. He added that the information provided by the three-year-old child is also being considered as part of the ongoing investigation.

 

Both bodies have been sent to the Badlapur Rural Hospital for post-mortem examination. Police officials have said that the investigation is being conducted from all possible angles to establish the exact sequence of events and uncover the truth behind the mysterious double death.

 

As several questions remain unanswered, the incident has created an atmosphere of fear and concern in the Badlapur area. Authorities continue to pursue all leads in an effort to determine what exactly transpired inside the car near Juveli village.


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