Mumbai: Former CM Prithviraj Chavan has demanded a judicial probe in the farm loan waiver scheme and questioned why the number of beneficiaries had shrunk from 89 lakh to 64 lakh.
State Congress leaders came together and decided to take the government to task on Thursday. Congress State President Ashok Chavan and Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna VikhePatil also addressed the press conference.
Chavan said that a nexus existed between officials of the Cooperative Department, credit societies and co-operative banks. “These officials are trying to siphon off a huge amount by making fake accounts of beneficiaries. The government should take action against the officers responsible for the mess in implementation of the loan waiver,” Chavan said.
“Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a package of Rs 34,000 crore for 89 lakh debt-ridden farmers to make them debt free. Now, he claims the beneficiaries will be 64 lakh. How can the same Aadhaar number be given to several accounts of different farmers? It is an utter failure on part of the government and action should be taken against the responsible persons,” Chavan said.