Kolhapur : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that action will be taken against banks that do not distribute the financial aid to farmers released by the government.
In an informal conversation with reporters here on Sunday, Fadnavis also said that the state cabinet will be expanded before the monsoon session of the state legislature and that ‘justice’ will be done with smaller allies of the Mahayuti.
“I have recently come to know that there are some co-operative and private banks that have withheld money which the State government sanctioned as financial aid for farmers,” he said.
“For instance, there is a bank in a Tehsil of Buldhana district that withheld Rs 4 crore out of Rs 132 crore given to them. I have asked the collector to serve a 3-day notice period to the bank and lodge an FIR against it,” he added.
BJP president designate Raosaheb Danve had yesterday alleged that most banks, where money has been deposited by the government as financial aid for farmers affected from drought and unseasonal rains are run by representatives from opposition parties and that the owners of these banks have pocketed the money.
“Justice will be done with all the allies of the Mahayuti,” Fadnavis said when asked if smaller parties of the alliance will get a ministerial berth in the upcoming cabinet expansion.
Reiterating his party’s stand on the Shiv Sena, Fadnavis said that prior to the Assembly election there was a mentality within the party that elections can’t be won without the Sena.
“We even went to the extent of offering them 147 seats while keeping 127 with us. But they didn’t oblige. So we had to go alone. Prior to election there was a mentality that we won’t be able to win alone because votes will get divided. But that changed after the election. But this does not mean we will leave the Shiv Sena now,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis claimed that no farmer in the state is willing to sell his cattle to slaughter houses and that he sells it only in exceptional circumstances.
“No farmer would want to sell his cattle to slaughter houses. They used to do so under extreme circumstances. But now, Jain institutions are willing to start Gau Shalas in every district,” Fadnavis said.
He said there are meetings being held with the Sena on filling up vacancies in co-operative institutions and that all posts will be filled by next month.
