Opposition Boycotts Assembly over Farmers' Insult, Demands Apology from Chief Minister

Nagpur: Opposition MLAs, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), boycotted the Maharashtra Assembly for the entire day on Tuesday, demanding a public apology from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over controversial remarks made by the agriculture minister and a BJP MLA.

The opposition accused minister Manikrao Kokate and MLA Babanrao Lonikar of insulting farmers and demanded strict action.

"The government is complicit in humiliating farmers. This arrogance of power will not be tolerated," said Congress legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar. He further alleged that ministers speak with contempt, and MLAs talk of charity when referring to farmers. "If this is not an insult, what is?" he asked.

The dispute erupted during the morning session when Wadettiwar and Nana Patole questioned speaker Rahul Narwekar near the podium, citing Lonikar's comment that "farmers survive on our money" and Kokate's earlier remark comparing farmers to beggars. The House was briefly adjourned for five minutes amid sloganeering by opposition legislators.

When proceedings resumed, opposition MLAs led by Patole continued chanting "CM must apologise," prompting Narwekar to suspend Patole for a day. In response, MVA legislators staged a walkout and announced a complete boycott of the day's legislative business.

"There is a clear pattern. Opposition voices are being silenced while those speaking against farmers go unpunished. We will continue to raise our voice for farmers, even if we are jailed," Wadettiwar told the media.

The boycott coincided with widespread farmer protests across twelve districts opposing the Shaktipeeth Expressway project. Wadettiwar added, "While farmers are on the streets, ruling leaders are mocking them. The chief minister's silence amounts to endorsement."