Loan waiver will act as saline for farmers: Raju Shetty

Mumbai: Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana (SSS) leader and MP Raju Shetty today said a loan waiver will act as a saline for farmers.

“Loan waiver is a saline. It is not as if only providing saline cures a disease. But, after providing saline to somebody, at least the body becomes ready for further treatment,” Shetty told reporters in Sangli.

“Similarly, if a new lease of life has to be given to farmers and basic facilities are to be provided to them, loan waiver is the only solution,” he said.

Meanwhile, taking a dig at Maharashtra Minister of State for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot, Shetty said not much can be expected from him as he has limited powers in the ministry.

“Sadabhau has limited powers in the ministry and he is not even involved in the decision making process. He cannot sit in the state cabinet. Thus, we do not expect much from him,” he added.

Khot is also a SSS leader.

“The government will take care of its well being. You (Khot) are only an MoS and your limits are defined clearly which you should abide,” he added.

Shetty’s criticism against Khot comes a day after he urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to decontrol pulses and cereals and remove them from the control of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs).

—PTI