Opposition Seeks Discussion On Relief For Farmers Affected By Unseasonal Rains, Stages Walkout From Maharashtra Assembly

CM Shinde said the government shared the same emotions for the farmers as the opposition and would provide immediate relief after the panchnama work would be completed.

Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar outside Maharashtra Assembly.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Maharashtra Assembly witnessed a dramatic scene on Thursday when the Opposition demanded that immediate relief should be given to the farmers whose crops were destroyed in the unseasonal rain and hailstorm, earlier this week, according to PTI.

Even after an assurance by chief minister Eknath Shinde that the government would announce aid to the farmers after the completion of panchnamas, the opposition led by leader Ajit Pawar staged a walkout from the assembly. 

The Opposition members were on their feet after Speaker Rahul Narvekar rejected an adjournment notice submitted by the Congress' Nana Patole on the issue. Narvekar said that the issue will be taken up for debate on Friday while urging MLAs to continue the Question Hour.

However, an adamant Patole who was supported by Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, NCP MLA Chhagan Bhujbal and Congress' Balasaheb Thorat demanded a discussion on the issue.

According to PTI, Bhujbal said nothing can be more important than providing relief to farmers and sought an immediate discussion on it.

Several opposition MLAs trooped down the Well of the House and shouted slogans as the Speaker continued with the Question Hour. Pawar lambasted the government for not comforting the farmers.

As the opposition MLAs were not in the mood to listen, CM Shinde then made a statement that they had ordered panchnamas of losses. He said the government shared the same emotions for the farmers as the opposition and would provide immediate relief after the panchnama work would be completed.

Leader of Opposition Pawar said the farmers were ending their lives in the constituency of agriculture minister Abdul Sattar (Sillod in Aurangabad) and further asked, what was the use of the Question Hour if citizens in distress did not get any relief.