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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.

Cockroaches to throng Pune tomorrow

 

Mumbai: After a sensational debut in New Delhi, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will launch its first protest in Maharashtra in Pune on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over what it describes as the growing crisis in India's education system.

 

CJP Founder-President Abhijeet Dipke announced the agitation on Monday with a terse welcoming message: “Let’s meet in Pune! Hail Maharashtra!”

 

The peaceful protest, under the hashtag #EducationMinisterMustResign, will be held near the Savitribai Phule Pune University campus on June 11 at 4 p.m. Aking to Jantar Mantar (New Delhi), a large turnout of students and young people is expected, judging by trends on social media.

 

Dipke has also declared that the CJP is indeed a political movement, despite emerging from online satire. He says the organisation draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Bhagat Singh.

 

He also announced that he will not return to the United States and intends to continue building the movement launched in mid-May.

 

“Maharashtra is the most progressive state, and many public movements have begun here. Accountability must be fixed; otherwise, the system cannot improve,” Dipke said.

 

Dipke reiterated that unless Pradhan quits by Saturday, CJP activists would hit the streets with further protests. He stated that the CJP would be built into a national movement after consultations with its young leadership team and supporters across the country.

 

Addressing the issue of unemployment, he noted that nearly 50 lakh graduates enter the job market every year, while only about 20 lakh secure meaningful employment.

 

“What happens to the rest? The support we received in New Delhi and elsewhere clearly proves that the issues we have raised are on the dot and resonate with young people. Unless we speak up and ask questions about our concerns, these problems will never be solved,” he pointed out.

 

As support for the CJP and Dipke continues to grow, several political parties and non-political figures and organisations, including Shiv Sena (UBT), activist Anjali Damania and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk, expressed solidarity with the campaign.

 

“Anyone who supports our cause is welcome. Those who are genuinely concerned about the future of India’s youth are standing with us,” Dipke said, in what is construed as a swipe at many national political parties preferring a wait-and-watch attitude.

 

On the Saturday protest in New Delhi, Dipke said that the youth and Gen Z are no longer afraid of the government which has not lived up to their expectations.

 

“It has failed us. Opportunities and jobs are not being created for young people. What option do they have except to raise their voices? Unless we raise our voice, ask questions and seek accountability, the system will not improve,” he said grimly.

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