Maharashtra Agriculture Minister and senior NCP leader Manikrao Kokate has issued a public apology after sparking outrage over his recent comments about farmers and loan waivers. His remarks, which were seen as insulting and dismissive towards the farming community, went viral on social media, prompting criticism from opposition leaders and public backlash.
Earlier, he had claimed that farmers do not spend money received from agriculture schemes for the intended purposes, but instead use it for engagement ceremonies and weddings.
“Why should those who repay loans regularly suffer? People take loans and wait for five to ten years for a waiver. Until then, they don’t repay anything. Tell me, when you get the waiver money, do you invest even a rupee into agriculture? The government is providing you funds for pipelines, irrigation, and farm ponds. The government is investing in capital for agriculture, but do farmers do the same?” Kokate had said.
These remarks, perceived as sarcastic and belittling, quickly went viral and drew severe criticism across political and social platforms. Opposition parties condemned Kokate’s comments as being insensitive to the struggles of farmers, many of whom are grappling with mounting debt, erratic weather, and poor market prices.
In light of the uproar, Kokate issued an apology on Sunday during a media interaction. “It was unintentional. I apologise to farmers if they felt insulted and their feelings were hurt,” he said after visiting the much-revered Kalaram temple in Nashik on the occasion of Ram Navami.
While the apology has somewhat tempered the backlash, farmer groups and political opponents have demanded that Kokate be held accountable for his statements. Many have called for more respect and empathy from public representatives towards the agricultural community, especially given the critical role farmers play in sustaining the state’s economy.
