Shiv Sena warns of agitation on loan waiver for farmers

Nagpur, Jan 29 (UNI) Reiterating its demand for complete loan waiver for the distressed farmers in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena today warned of launching an intense agitation across the state if the announcement in this regard was not made by the state government within a fortnight.

''We will not allow ministers in the state cabinet to move around'', Leader of the Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, Ramdas Kadam said while addressing the party's 'Ghantanaad' (Ring the Bell) agitation here this evening.

Although the ongoing agitation was peaceful and in democratic style, the Shiv Sena would intensify it and do it 'in its own style' if the government did not concede the demand, the Sena leader said.

The party would hold a rally of farmers in Pune on February 3 next, to be followed by rallies in Sangli and Konkan, Mr Kadam said.

The agitation was to try and wake up a thick-skinned government that was deep in slumber and ignoring the problems of farmers, he alleged.

Sena leader and former legislator Vinayak Raut said the government was insensitive to the woes of farmers. It would not be too difficult for the government to waive off farmers loans when it could write off huge debts and outstanding power bills of sugar mills in western parts of the state, he added.

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