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Maharashtra Opposition Walks Out of Assembly Over Cotton, Soybean Procurement Row

Even some ruling legislators voiced displeasure with the minister’s reply.

Overview

  • Opposition members accused the Mahayuti government of failing to ensure MSP procurement and said many cotton and soybean centres were non-functional or turning farmers away.
  • Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged soybean was not being purchased at the Rs 5,300 per quintal MSP and claimed roughly 70% of produce was rejected at centres.
  • Wadettiwar also said CCI conditions were stalling cotton purchases and claimed a reduction of cotton import duty to zero would depress domestic prices.
  • Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal maintained the state has increased the number of procurement centres and raised procurement prices compared with last year.
  • Speaker Rahul Narwekar proposed a meeting later in the day, which the Opposition rejected while demanding a statement in the House, as CM Devendra Fadnavis’s assurance failed to prevent the walkout.