Pune: Ajit Pawar tells farmers not to pay power bills

Nashik: The opposition parties have been criticising Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over the Ladki Bahin Yojana (dear sister scheme). They questioned him if he had nothing for brothers.

Pawar has replied to them and has announced that farmers will not have to pay power bills for the agriculture purpose. Their outstanding bills have also been waived.

The State Government’s solar pump scheme is ensuring that they do not have to depend on power supply. “Farmers do not have to pay a single rupee under the solar pump scheme. Lakhs of farmers will benefit,” claimed Pawar.

He was speaking at Dindori in Nashik district during the Jansanman Yatra on Thursday.

Pawar tried to woo dear sisters as well as dear brothers. He said, “Farmers in the State will not have to pay power bills. The solar pump scheme has been introduced. Therefore, there is no need to pay pending agriculture power bills too. You will not have to pay it in the future also. If an MSEDCL employee comes to your field to cut power for pending bills, tell him that it is my order that he cannot cut your power connection.

“I have been working as the Finance Minister for 10 years and have presented 10 budgets. Therefore, I know how to finance a scheme. The opposition says that the Ladki Bahin Yojana is temporary. But it will continue for the next five years. Ha Ajitdadacha vada ahe (this is Ajitdada’s promise to you).”

‘Rs 3,000 will be deposited on August 17 under Ladki Bahin Yojana’

Pawar said, “There is a delay in filling the forms for the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana. But women will get their rights. I am ready to pay any price for this. We are trying to deposit the money under the Yojana in women’s accounts by August 17. As many as 1.25 crore women have qualified for the scheme. The figure will reach 1.5 crores to 2 crores by August 17. I signed a Rs 6,000 crore file yesterday for the purpose. The money will be deposited in your bank accounts. Buy something for yourself with this money. Spendings by Ladki Bahin will boost the market.”