Wadettiwar slams government over Maratha quota, UPI charges

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar criticised the Maharashtra government on several issues while speaking to reporters, ranging from charges on UPI transactions to the Maratha reservation, and launched a sharp attack on the Mahayuti government.

Wadettiwar alleged that Prime Minister Modi has wrecked the country's economy and created a situation in which banks could collapse. He said banks will charge Rs 12 on a UPI transaction of Rs 2,000, and this burden on traders will ultimately be recovered from the pockets of ordinary customers. On a transaction of one lakh rupees, the government will directly collect Rs 600, he said. He alleged this was outright cheating of the common people, and that the government was looting the poor of their money while writing off Rs 16 lakh crore of loans owed by industrialists.

Speaking on Manoj Jarange Patil's agitation, Wadettiwar said there is a need to examine why the government repeatedly deceives Jarange and why Jarange himself keeps getting deceived. He noted that Jarange Patil's demands have kept changing. He said OBCs have no objection to certificates being given to those with old Kunbi records, but criticised that new gazettes are being dug up every day. He also questioned whether the show of strength being carried out with convoys of vehicles meant the state was living in a democracy or a monarchy. He made clear that the current agitation, driven by emotional appeals and inflaming sentiments, has nothing to do with OBCs.

The soybean crop in the state has been completely lost, and the paddy crop too has started withering. Speaking on this grim situation, Wadettiwar targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He recalled that when he was leader of the opposition, Fadnavis used to demand that money be credited directly to farmers' accounts without waiting for the panchnama, and that a drought be declared.

However, Wadettiwar said, Fadnavis's tone has changed after coming to power, and he now only talks of surveys and verification. He said that in this time of crisis, not just a few leaders but the entire opposition needs to stand firmly behind farmers. Wadettiwar also warned that after Ganeshotsav, tours will be undertaken across Maharashtra and intense agitations will be launched against the government in every district.