Maharashtra to waive farmers’ loans by June 30 next year, says CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that farmers loan in the state would be waived off by June 30 in 2026 based on the report which will be submitted by a committee formed that has been formed by the state government reported news agency ANICM Fadnavis said that the step is being taken by his government as per the promise made in the poll manifesto during the previous electionOur Maharashtra government stated in its manifesto that it would waive farmers loans We have made a decision on this today We have formed a committee to prepare a report on how to waive loans and the criteria for doing so It will review this and submit the report to us by April 1st After that within three months that is before June 30th we will waive farmers loans based on that report the Chief Minister told reporters on ThursdayThe Mahayuti had made a prepoll promise during the Maharashtra assembly elections in 2024 of giving a loan waiver to farmersOn the Powai children hostage incident the Chief Minister lauded the Mumbai police for carrying out a precise rescue operation of 17 childrenA 50yearold man identified as Rohit Arya who had taken children hostage in Mumbais Powai area was declared dead after being taken to HBT Hospital police said on Thursday Police said that Arya was seriously injured in the incident and was admitted to the hospital for treatment reported ANIThe Mumbai police performed a very good job and conducted a very precise operation17 children were rescued without any injuries We will update you on the rest of the investigation soon the Chief Minister said reported ANIAccording to Mumbai Police sources Initially the accused Rohit Arya was listening to the Police and cooperating He mentioned Deepak Kesarkars name during the conversation and said that he doesnt trust Kesarkar When he stopped cooperating with the Police the Police started forming a strategy to go in A phone call was made to him for the last time at 2 pm stating that his demands would be met and that he should let the children go He was made to speak with his family but it had no impact on him Police started breaking down the grill at 330 pm and entered the studio at 430 pm reported ANISources said that the accused had sprayed a chemical on the entire floor making the situation even more dangerous As soon as the Police went inside he bent to get something from his bag At that moment API Amol Waghmare fired one round in retaliation and it hit him on the left side of his chest He was taken to a hospital where he diedInvestigation revealed that the accused had put an ad for a web series on social media and an audition was going on for the past 4 days 17 children were selected in the auditionPolice said that the incident cannot be called an encounter since the firing was done to secure the hostage childrenIt was a firing done by the Police in order to rescue the hostage children So it cant be called an encounter Police fired to secure the hostage children and it hit the accused Rohit Arya who sustained injury and died later Rohit Arya was declared dead by the hospital police saidPolice confirmed that all the children were rescued safely and handed over to their guardiansWith inputs from ANI