Cotton crisis deepens: Opposition protests government inaction; farmers demand loan waivers and fair prices
By jayesh chouhan 2025-12-09 16:15:31
Cotton Crisis Deepens as Opposition Slams Government, Farmers Demand Loan Waivers
Nagpur: The second day of the winter session began on a confrontational note on Tuesday, with the opposition cornering the state government over falling cotton prices and growing distress among farmers. Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar protested on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan, alleging that the state government was neglecting the welfare of farmers by reducing the import tariff from 12% to zero, leading to increased imports and lower incomes for local farmers.
The protest began just seconds after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Cultural Minister Ashish Shelar, Speaker Rahul Narvekar, and Council Chairperson Ram Shinde gathered on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan for an official photo session with students from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
Holding a placard and raising slogans, Waddetiwar accused the government of neglecting cotton growers in Vidarbha and Marathwada. “Cotton must get a fair price. Farmers need fair compensation for their produce,” he shouted while leading the demonstration. The protests gained momentum, and leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) camp also joined in.
Speaking to the media, former MPCC president Nana Patole said the government had taken shortcuts in waiving farmers' loans, providing relief only to those who had approached the court. He alleged, “Only 500 crore rupees out of 1,500 crore rupees have been waived,” and said the government's approach prioritized vote bank funding over the welfare of farmers.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray was seen holding a cotton plant as a symbol of farmers' suffering. He waved it while raising slogans and demanding immediate government intervention. Several opposition MLAs stood with him, holding banners demanding complete loan waivers and bonus procurement prices to stabilize the cotton sector.
According to the opposition, market fluctuations and procurement delays have forced farmers to sell their produce at prices far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). They alleged that government assurances have not been implemented, leaving cotton growers in debt and frustrated.
The opposition has warned that they will intensify protests inside and outside the House until the government announces relief measures for cotton growers. With farmers' issues being discussed for the second consecutive day, the Winter Session is expected to be more chaotic.
Earlier in the morning, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while briefing CPA students, targeted the opposition, saying that raising slogans on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan is not "parliamentary procedure," as the real discussions and decisions take place inside the House.
