NAGPUR: The second day of the Winter Session began on a confrontational note on Tuesday, as the Opposition cornered the state government over crashing cotton prices and rising farmer distress. Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Waddetiwar staged a protest on the steps of Vidhan Bhavan, accusing the state of ignoring farmer welfare by reducing import tariffs from 12% to nil, which he said maximised imports and lowered income for local farmers.
The protest unfolded just seconds after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Cultural Minister Ashish Shelar, Speaker Rahul Narvekar, and Council Chairperson Ram Shinde had gathered on the steps of Vidhan Bhavan for an official photograph with students of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
Holding placards and shouting slogans, Waddetiwar accused the government of neglecting cotton growers across Vidarbha and Marathwada. “Cotton should get proper rates. Farmers need fair compensation for their yield,” he shouted while leading the demonstration. The protest quickly gained momentum, drawing leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) camp.
Former MPCC president Nana Patole, speaking to the media, said the government had taken a shortcut in waiving farmer loans, providing relief only to those who approached the courts. “Only Rs 500 crore out of Rs 1,500 crore have been waived,” he alleged, adding that the government’s approach prioritises votes over farmer welfare.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray made a striking appearance, holding a cotton plant as a symbolic gesture of farmers’ suffering. He waved it while chanting slogans and demanded immediate government intervention. Several Opposition MLAs stood beside him, carrying banners calling for a full loan waiver and bonus procurement prices to stabilise the cotton sector.
According to the Opposition, farmers have been forced to sell their produce at prices far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) due to market volatility and delayed procurement. They alleged that government assurances have not materialised on the ground, resulting in mounting debts and despair among cotton cultivators.
The Opposition has warned of intensified protests inside and outside the House until the government announces relief measures for cotton growers. With farmer issues dominating discussions for the second consecutive day, the Winter Session is expected to witness further turbulence.
Earlier in the morning, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while briefing CPA students, took a swipe at the Opposition, saying that shouting slogans on the steps of Vidhan Bhavan does not qualify as “parliamentary procedure,” as real discussions and decisions take place inside the House.
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