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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.

Organised bid to brainwash, convert Dalit woman: Court’


Mumbai: A Nashik Sessions Court – which declined anticipatory bail to a woman employee of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in an alleged conversion case – has observed that the charges against her point to a ‘systematic and organised attempt’ to influence and push a female Dalit colleague towards changing her religion.


Additional Sessions Judge K. G. Joshi said that the nature of accusations against the accused – Nida Ejaz Khan – pointed to a deliberated pattern rather than an isolated act.


At this stage there appears to be a ‘clear reference’ to the accused’s role in the complaint and the supporting material submitted by the prosecution in the sensational case, he noted in the detailed order.


Multilayered Probe

“Prima facie, it appeared that the applicant’s role is specifically mentioned, and involvement is also seen. The magnitude of the offense is truly multi-dimensional and multi-layered. The material on record shows that the accused tried to change the victim’s name. No doubt, the victim has a Constitutional right to profess any religion and have any name of her own choice, but that does not mean she should be brainwashed for the same and that too with organised plan,” said Judge Joshi’s order.


Considering the seriousness of the charges against her, the court held that it was not a fit case to grant protection from arrest.


The case arises from complaints filed and multiple FIRs registered in Deolali and Mumbai Naka Police Stations in Nashik, against eight accused persons - six men and two women - including a senior operations manager at TCS. While 7 accused have been arrested, only Nida remains at large.


Among other things the complaints alleged sexual harassment of women employees, attempts at religious conversion, humiliation, threats at the workplace, and sexual remarks. Nida is also accused of making derogatory remarks on Hindu deities and reportedly played an active role in influencing the complainant to change her faith.


Malaysia Trip Planned

The court referred to the prosecution’s contentions how Nida attempted to persuade the complainant to change her name and even sought assistance from individuals in Malegaon for the purpose. It further alleged that she wanted to send the complainant-victim to Malaysia as part of the broader plan in which names of several cities and countries emerged.


After the entire scam erupted last month, Nida moved the court for anticipatory bail through lawyers, Rahul Kasliwal and Baba Sayyad, citing her pregnancy and delay in filing the FIR among the grounds.


However, Judge Joshi said that the probe was multidimensional and multi-layered which warranted the physical custody of the accused.


Right To Faith

Though acknowledging that every individual has a constitutional right to choose and practice a religion of their choice, the court made it clear that such a decision must be free of coercion or manipulation. “That does not mean she (the victim) should be brainwashed for the same, and that too with an organised plan,” Judge Joshi noted.


It took into account the allegations that Nida worked with co-accused Danish Shaikh and Tausif Attar to influence the complainant by criticising Hindu beliefs and providing her with religious material, including a burqa and literature on the life of Prophet Muhammad, to convince her to convert.


Based on the available material, the court said offences under provisions related to outraging religious feelings and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act appeared to be made out at this stage, and rejected Nida’s anticipatory bail plea.

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