more-in Mumbai: Reacting to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s statement terming the steering committee’s agitation as sedition, the Opposition and farmers on Thursday slammed the government for being insensitive towards their demands and diverting the attention from the main issue. “The CM should not even attempt to teach us patriotism. The rulers, who are forcing farmers to commit suicide, are traitors, and not us, who are protesting the government,” said Ajit Nawale, convener of the steering committee. Replying to the accusation that demanding farm loan waiver is an attempt to create anarchy, Mr. Nawale said it was Mr. Fadnavis, who as an opposition MLA was in the forefront while demanding loan waiver. “If demanding farm loan waiver is sedition, then should we call extending tax waiver to corporates as patriotism?” The Congress demanded apology. “BJP leaders in the past have abused farmers and the tradition continues even today. Terming the act of seeking loan waiver by a committee as sedition should be condemned. We demand the CM’s apology over his statements,” said Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant. Mr. Sawant called the speech an attempt to hide failure. “The CM keeps talking about waiver. But not a single farmer has received the benefits. The CM has no option but to blame the media and the Opposition.” NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “Mr. Fadnavis called us powerless, but he has spent most of the time levelling allegations against us. It is nothing but frustration. Instead, the CM should concentrate on governance.”

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