The opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly today staged protest demanding that the state government give immediate compensation to the farmers whose crops were damaged in unseasonal rains.
The opposition led by leader Ajit Pawar staged a walkout from the assembly, even after an assurance by chief minister (CM) Eknath Shinde that the government would announce aid to the farmers after the completion of panchnamas. CM assured that his government will never leave farmers in the lurch. The issue was raised by MPCC president Nana Patole during the question hour, demanding immediate relief to the rain-hit farmers. He claimed that many of them were resorting to suicides and said if the government had declared help to them in last few days, it would have saved many lives. Pawar criticised the government for not comforting the distressed farmers.
Speaker Rahul Narvekar said the issue will be taken up for debate on Friday and urged MLAs to allow Question Hour to continue. His statement created big uproar among the opposition benches. Some opposition MLAs trooped into the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the government.