Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Urges Farmers to Repay Loans Rather Than Await Waivers

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has urged farmers to repay bank loans if possible rather than waiting for bailouts. His remarks come shortly after former MLA Bachchu Kadu led a major protest demanding farm loan waivers that resulted in a highway blockade.

The Maharashtra government has indicated it will address the farm loan waiver issue by June 30, 2026.

"When a bank provides you money at zero percent interest, develop the habit of repaying it on time," Pawar stated during an address at Shri Someshwar Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana in Baramati.

Pawar, who also serves as finance minister, expressed frustration with the recurring pattern of agricultural issues requiring the same solutions.

"The same freebies, the same waivers, the same solutions... Sharad Pawar implemented a loan waiver once... Devendra Fadnavis also provided loan waivers when Uddhav Thackeray and I were in the government," Pawar remarked.

"Now, in the Mahayuti alliance, we haven't promised to waive farm loans again because of elections... The waiver would anyway cost several thousand crores of rupees," he added.

Kadu, the protesting MLA, agreed to relocate from the national highway to a nearby ground following discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday.

The Bombay High Court ordered protesters to vacate the site, after which ministers Pankaj Bhoyar and Ashish Jaiswal engaged in talks with them.

Prior to these discussions, Fadnavis had requested Kadu to address farmers' concerns directly with the government instead of organizing protests that inconvenience the public and potentially allow exploitation by vested interests.

"Our current priority is supporting farmers who have experienced losses due to heavy rainfall. We have never opposed farm loan waivers," the chief minister stated.

Farmers, particularly in central Maharashtra, have suffered substantial losses due to unprecedented September rainfall.