‘Mahayuti cheating farmers’: Congress slams BJP-led Maharashtra govt

Congress leader and Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala came down heavily on the Mahayuti government, accusing it of cheating farmers, beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin scheme, and the unemployed in the state.

 

Speaking at the press conference after a meeting of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee’s Political Affairs Committee at Tilak Bhavan, Chennithala said that instead of providing relief to distressed farmers, the BJP-led state government has rebranded old schemes into a misleading package. He also accused the state government of remaining silent on the issue of farm loan waivers. The AICC general secretary added that the state government has not clarified the disbursement of Rs 2,100 under the Ladki Bahin scheme. Congress will hold agitations and rallies across the state to question the government on these public issues, he said.

 

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of state president Harshavardhan Sapkal and in the presence of Chennithala. Among those present were legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, former Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, CWC member Balasaheb Thorat, former state presidents Nana Patole and Manikrao Thakare, former minister and CWC member Naseem Khan, MP and former CWC member Praniti Shinde, Mumbai Congress president MP Varsha Gaikwad, and other party leaders.

 

Chennithala added that the Mahayuti government has no fund for the Ladki Bahin scheme, and so, funds from the tribal development and social justice departments are being diverted, adversely affecting welfare schemes for backward communities. “The government announced Rs 2,100 for women to attract votes, but it is struggling even to pay Rs 1,500,” he said.

 

Farmers had demanded Rs 50,000 per hectare as compensation for crop loss, but the government has offered meagre assistance, he said. “This is an anti-farmer government that also neglects the issue of unemployment.”

 

Chennithala added that the Mahayuti government is deliberately ignoring crucial issues faced by citizens, while some in the ruling party are trying to disturb Maharashtra’s social harmony by fuelling communal discord. “This is a conspiracy to disrupt the peace in the state, but neither the chief minister nor the two deputy chief ministers are saying a word about it.”

 

He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has presented evidence of electoral fraud, yet the Election Commission has not given a satisfactory response. Other political parties have also lodged complaints on this issue. A delegation comprising leaders from the Congress, NCP - Sharadchandra Pawar, and Shiv Sena (UBT) will meet the Election Commissioners tomorrow. The delegation will include Thorat and Varsha Gaikwad.

 

When asked about Raj Thackeray, Chennithala clarified, “There has been no discussion in the Congress about MNS, nor have we discussed it with our allies.” He said many Congress office bearers and workers wish to contest local body elections independently, but the decision to form alliances or coalitions has been delegated to local units.

India