Shruti Suman
On Sunday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar explained his decision to join the alliance between the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena government in the state. He emphasized that in politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends. He stated that his faction joined this alliance, called Mahayuti, to address the issues faced by the people of the state.
Speaking at a public rally in Beed, Ajit Pawar stated, “We have joined the Mahayuti alliance (formed by Ajit Pawar with BJP and Shinde-led Sena) to address the concerns of the people. Our choice is aimed at the state’s development. In politics, alliances can change, but our commitment to protecting people of all backgrounds remains constant.”
He further said, “Our dedication to farmers’ welfare is unwavering. Agriculture relies on adequate water supply in fields. During my tenure as the Water Resources Minister, I focused on this aspect.”
Ajit Pawar mentioned that he had directed the state’s agriculture minister, Dhananjay Munde, to visit Delhi and meet key central leaders regarding the recent onion issue in the state.
“When the onion issue arose, many received calls. The opposition often misrepresents information. I advised Dhananjay to travel to Delhi. He went and appealed for substantial assistance. Home Minister Amit Shah promptly procured 2 lakh metric tonnes of onions at ₹24 per kg,” he elaborated.
Nana Patole, the Chief of Maharashtra Congress, criticized the recent decision by the Central government to raise the export duty on onions by 40%, calling it “anti-farmer.”
“They are deceiving our farmers. I question Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Piyush Goyal: Why increase export taxes? Onions can spoil, and if the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India doesn’t make immediate purchases, farmers will suffer losses,” Patole expressed.
The Central government recently imposed a 40% export duty on onions, prompting onion farmers in Maharashtra’s Nashik district to stage a protest on Monday.
A notification from the Finance Ministry on August 19 revealed the imposition of a 40% export duty on onions until December 31, 2023.
This export duty is introduced amid predictions of rising onion prices in September. On August 11, the central government began releasing onions from its buffer stock.
The central government had previously planned to maintain 3 lakh tonnes of onions in the 2023-24 season as buffer stock. In the previous season (2022-23), the government held 2.51 lakh tonnes of onions in buffer stock.
Buffer stock is maintained to address emergencies and stabilize prices during times of reduced supply.
On Tuesday, the central government initiated the procurement of an additional two lakh tonnes of onions from farmers in Maharashtra. This decision followed a meeting between Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Delhi.
