Sunil Tatkare says Rs 5,000 aid for farmers is inadequate, to meet CM Fadnavis seeking increase
NCP MP Sunil Tatkare said the Rs 5,000 advance aid per farmer is not enough and that he would meet the Chief Minister to press for a higher amount.
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A political debate has begun over the financial aid announced for farmers in Maharashtra. After Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the aid, reactions have been coming from different political quarters. The Opposition was already targeting the government over the Rs 5,000 aid, and a voice has now been raised from within the Mahayuti government as well. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Sunil Tatkare has commented on the matter.
Tatkare said the advance aid of Rs 5,000 being given to farmers is inadequate. He made it clear that he would meet the Chief Minister to press for an increase in the aid. Tatkare said this while speaking to the media in Dharashiv.
Tatkare also said the NCP wants the state's finance portfolio. According to him, the late Ajit Pawar had handled the finance portfolio with discipline when he was finance minister. Tatkare said that during a calamity, Ajit Pawar had given farmers immediate financial help while maintaining fiscal discipline.
Following the statement, there is talk in political circles that Tatkare has indirectly questioned the functioning of the finance portfolio, which is held by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The state government has announced Rs 5,000 per farmer as immediate financial aid before Diwali. However, the amount is being criticised as too little given the farmers' losses and needs. Against this backdrop, Tatkare has demanded that the aid amount be raised. The issue of farmer aid is therefore likely to be discussed among the constituents of the ruling Mahayuti as well.
After a state Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis had announced immediate aid of Rs 5,000 per farmer before Diwali. The Chief Minister had also said that this year, decisions related to drought and the aid process have been started early.
A demand to increase the aid amount has now come up. Tatkare's statement has brought into discussion not only the aid for farmers but also the question of who should hold the state's finance portfolio.
