Congress warns of disrupting session for agricultural loan waiver

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and state Congress chief Ashok Chavan on Saturday warned that the party would not allow the state legislature to function if farmers' loans were not waived entirely.

"We will not allow the Assembly to function till the state government concedes our demand for total waiver of loans of farmers," Chavan said, addressing a rally at Akola Bazar in Yavatmal district.

Former MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre, MP Rajiv Satav, former ministers Shivajirao Moghe and Harshawardhan Patil and others were present at the rally.

Congress would launch a statewide agitation for loan waiver on July 9 and 10, Chavan said.

Taking a jibe at Yoga Day celebration, he said Congress was not against Yoga, but wanted to know how it would benefit someone who doesn't have anything to eat.

"We kickstarted the loan waiver campaign by paying off the dues of nine farmers who committed suicide in village Pimpri Buti and today I have handed over to the next of kin the receipts and no-dues certificates from the

Yavatmal District Central Co-Operative Bank," Chavan said and demanded the state government should follow the suit.