On the eve of Diwali, Opposition parties in Maharashtra, the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Mahayuti government, accusing it of abandoning rain and flood-affected farmers and reducing the festival of lights to a “Black Diwali” for thousands of struggling rural families.
According to the news agency PTI, NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde led the charge, claiming that the state government had “burned the hopes” of farmers by making false promises, announcing meagre relief, and failing to provide substantial compensation for crop losses. “The so-called progressive state has mocked its food providers,” Shinde said during a day-long hunger strike held outside the Satara district collector’s office, one of many protests staged across Maharashtra on Friday.
The protest campaign, launched by NCP (SP) workers and leaders, was observed outside collectorates in all districts. Protesters wore black clothes and ribbons, symbolising mourning, and raised slogans denouncing the Mahayuti regime`s alleged indifference to farmers` suffering.
According to Shinde, crops like soybean, tur, cotton, sugarcane, moong, and urad have been severely damaged, and livestock losses have compounded the crisis. Yet, panchnamas (damage surveys) remain incomplete, and compensation is either delayed or grossly insufficient.
As per PTI, he also slammed the ruling alliance for failing to deliver on core farmer issues, such as loan waivers and declaring a “wet drought”, a key demand from agricultural communities. “Those who promised to clean the 7/12 land extract didn’t even mention waivers. The cry of the farmer is falling on deaf ears,” said Shinde, accusing the ruling parties of being “intoxicated with power.”
Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Vijay Wadettiwar, echoed similar concerns. Addressing the media in Nagpur, he alleged that while Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced a Rs 31,000 crore relief package, the actual assistance disbursed so far amounted to just Rs 1,800 crore, translating to a meagre Rs 10,000 per hectare.
“This is nothing short of betrayal. The government made tall claims but issued government resolutions (GRs) for only a fraction of the promised amount,” Wadettiwar said. He emphasised that 253 talukas had been severely impacted by heavy rainfall between June and September, and thousands of farmers remain in distress.
“The aid follows only the basic norms under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), with no additional support. In many cases, compensation for lost land will be disbursed over three years. How are farmers supposed to survive till then?” he asked.
Wadettiwar also flagged issues with procurement delays. He said that cotton procurement is yet to begin due to a lack of approval from the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), while soybean prices remain unviably low. He warned that these setbacks could push farmers further into financial ruin.
As per PTI, further, the Congress MLA criticised the government`s move to bring Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) under the direct control of the state Marketing Minister. “This decision allows for political exploitation of a system that manages transactions worth crores. By removing elected boards, the government is committing a serious injustice,” he said.
In Thane, NCP (SP) workers held a symbolic protest outside the district collectorate, led by district president Manoj Pradhan and overseen by party general secretary Jitendra Awhad. Pradhan accused the government of cheating rain-affected farmers, claiming that even the promised Diwali aid had not reached them. “There’s still no word on loan waivers. Relief remains only on paper,” he said.
The NCP (SP) has warned of intensified statewide agitation if the government fails to fulfil its promises. “We will take to the streets and force the government to act,” Pradhan declared.
(With PTI inputs)
