Farm loan waiver: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray says he will support Maharashtra farmers in future protests

Mumbai city news: hiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray hinted that the party will support the agitation and force the government to their meet demands.

Farmers’ outfits rejected the government’s decision to waive farm loans worth Rs 34,000 crore and plan to resort to protests after July 26. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray hinted that the party will support the agitation and force the government to their meet demands.

Thackeray met farmers from Puntamba village of Ahmednagar district and Nashik district on Sunday. These farmers had taken the lead during the strike, which started on June 1, demanding loan waiver (HT)

“From now, we will sit on the government’s head to ensure that all our demands are accepted,” Thackeray said while addressing a farmers’ rally in Nashik on Sunday.

“The decision of the Rs34,000-crore waiver is historic but our party is still not satisfied as farmers are not happy. There is still resentment among them,” Thackeray said. "The waiver will bring relief to lots of farmers but all those who agitated and went on strike for so many days should also get some respite,” he added.

Thackeray met farmers from Puntamba village of Ahmednagar district and Nashik district on Sunday. These farmers had taken the lead during the strike, which started on June 1, demanding loan waiver. “I have come to meet the farmers who made history,” the Sena chief said praising them for the protest that jolted the state government.

“If I come to know of cases being registered against farmers for agitating, I will see what can be done with this government,” Thackeray said threatening to take on the BJP-led state government.

The Sena chief will also meet farmers who are opposing the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway in Nashik. The project is already courting controversy after farmers raised objections for their lands being acquired for the project.