Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has provided insights into his decision to align with the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition in the state, stating that the aim was to address the issues faced by the people. Speaking at a public rally in Beed, Pawar highlighted that in politics, the dynamics of friendship and enmity are ever-changing and that his commitment remains to serve the people of all castes and religions.
“We have joined Mahayuti (Ajit Pawar’s alliance with BJP, Shinde-led Sena) to solve the problems of the people. We took this decision for the development of the state. In politics, there are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends. We want to tell everyone in Maharashtra that even though we are in the Mahayuti alliance, it is our duty to protect people of all castes and religions,” Ajit Pawar asserted.
Focusing on agriculture, Pawar emphasized his dedication to the welfare of farmers, particularly in the context of water resources management. He recalled his efforts during his tenure as the Water Resources minister in the state government.
Referring to the recent onion crisis, Ajit Pawar highlighted his efforts to address the issue. He recounted how he urged state agriculture minister Dhananjay Munde to meet central leaders in Delhi to discuss the onion situation. He praised Home Minister Amit Shah for swiftly addressing the matter by procuring 2 lakh metric tonnes of onions at ₹24 per kg.
The article also touches on the criticism from Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole regarding the Central government’s decision to raise the export duty on onions. Patole labeled the move as “anti-farmer,” expressing concerns about the impact on farmers and the potential for spoilage of onions due to the new policy.
The recent imposition of a 40 percent export duty on onions till December 31, 2023, has prompted protests among onion farmers in Maharashtra’s Nashik district. This decision comes amid reports of anticipated onion price hikes in September. To address the situation, the central government had initiated onion releases from its buffer stock since August 11, 2023.
The buffer stock is maintained as a contingency measure to stabilize onion prices during periods of limited supply. In line with this approach, the central government announced the procurement of an additional two lakh tonnes of onions from Maharashtra farmers.
This announcement followed a meeting between Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Delhi. The cooperative efforts between state and central leaders reflect an ongoing commitment to address crucial issues affecting farmers and the agricultural sector in Maharashtra.
Sources By Agencies
