Not satisfied with loan waiver, but will cooperate, says Sharad Pawar

NCP President and former Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar said on Sunday that NCP isn’t satisfied with the loan waiver announced by the state government, but has decided to cooperate with them for taking the first step.

Addressing a press conference in Pune, Pawar said that indebtedness was the main reason behind farmer suicides and providing minimum support price for farm produce was the most needed measure. He pointed out that the BJP, in its 2014 Lok Sabha election manifesto had promised to implement the Swaminathan Committee Report recommendation of providing farmers with their input cost along with 50 per cent profit made on the same.

Stating that Tata Institute of Social Science and Pune’s Gokhale Institute have submitted a report suggesting that indebtedness is the main reason behind farmer suicides, Pawar said that the BJP hasn’t made any appointment to the Agricultural Pricing Commission since it came to power. He demanded to make these appointments and have persons of repute in the field of agriculture on it.  

When asked if the state can afford the loan waiver, Pawar said that it wouldn’t have any adverse effect on state’s taxpayers. He said that Maharashtra is financially more stable than Uttar Pradesh and can bear the burden with ease.

• Stating that farmers cultivated tur last season upon the government’s insistence and that there was good yield this year, Pawar said that the government should provide export subsidy for tur daal (Government has stopped purchasing tur from farmers). He also demanded export subsidy on onions.
   
• When asked if there will be midterm polls in the state, Pawar said, “The CM has made such statements before; he has hinted on   sending a message across to Bandra (Uddhav Thackkeray).” He further said that being a political party, NCP is always prepared for elections.