Vijay Wadettiwar calls Maharashtra Budget 2026 loan waiver a ‘pretence’

Senior Congress leader and MLA Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday strongly criticised the Maharashtra government over the recently presented Maharashtra Budget 2026 alleging that the farmer loan waiver announced by the ruling coalition is merely a ldquopretencerdquo and does not address the real financial distress faced by farmers reported news agency ANISpeaking to reporters in Nagpur Wadettiwar targeted the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accusing it of prioritising industrial interests while ignoring the needs of ordinary citizens and farmersCongress leader questions farm loan waiver announcementWadettiwar claimed that the loan waiver scheme announced in the Maharashtra Budget 2026 lacks substance and fails to provide genuine relief to farmers struggling with debtldquoThere is no budget to discuss The government has nothing in this budget except benefiting the industrialists and the pretence of a loan waiverrdquo Wadettiwar said reported ANIHe further alleged that the state governmentrsquos financial management is putting a heavy burden on Maharashtrarsquos economy According to the Congress leader the government is already facing massive interest liabilitiesldquoThe state government has to pay interest of Rs 67000 crore The loot of Maharashtra is going onrdquo he added while criticising the fiscal approach of the ruling alliance reported ANIWhat the Maharashtra Budget proposes for farmersWhile presenting the Maharashtra Budget on March 6 Chief Minister and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a farm loan waiver scheme aimed at providing relief to farmers with overdue crop loansUnder the proposal eligible farmers will receive a loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh on pending crop loans In addition the government has proposed an incentive of Rs 50000 for farmers who have consistently repaid their loans on time as part of efforts to encourage financial discipline in the agricultural sectorThe announcement has been positioned by the government as a major step towards addressing agrarian distress in the stateDemand for Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra AssemblyWadettiwar also reiterated the demand of the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA alliance for the appointment of a Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative AssemblyHe alleged that the state government is deliberately avoiding the appointment claiming it reflects a lack of commitment to democratic practicesldquoThe state government does not want the opposition leader in the House It seems that the government has already decided If there is faith in democracy the opposition should be given its rightful place but this government does not have faith in democracyrdquo Wadettiwar said reported ANISupports noconfidence motion against Lok Sabha SpeakerThe Congress leader also commented on the political developments at the national level backing the partyrsquos decision to move a noconfidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om BirlaHe alleged that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to speak during the ongoing Budget Session of ParliamentldquoThe opposition leader is not allowed to speak against the government in the House The whole nation witnessed it The Lok Sabha was a oneman show So the opposition has brought in a noconfidence motionrdquo Wadettiwar said reported ANIAccording to opposition leaders as many as 118 MPs have signed the motion accusing the Speaker of ldquopartisanrdquo conduct The resolution will be formally moved if it receives the required permission of the HouseParliament Budget Session underway till AprilMeanwhile the second phase of the ongoing Parliament Budget Session is scheduled to continue until April 2 During this period key legislative business and discussions related to the Union Budget 2026 are expected to take placeThe session began on January 28 with the address of the President to a joint sitting of both Houses and is scheduled to include around 30 sittings spread across 65 daysWith inputs from ANI