Ajit Pawar apologies to onion farmers, says ban on exports dealt a big blow

Niphad (Maharashtra), Aug 9 (IANS) NCP National President and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday apologised to the onion farmers of the state, saying that various decisions taken by the Centre, including a ban on onion exports, were a mistake which dealt a big blow. Addressing a farmers’ rally on the second day of his Jansanman Yatra at Nphad in Nashik district, Ajit Pawar assured that onion exports won’t be banned now, reiterating the commitment of the NCP and the MahaYuti government to provide all the possible assistance to the onion farmers.”The Central government’s decision to ban onion exports dealt a big blow to the MahaYuti (grand alliance). The blow from the Lok Sabha elections was so severe that it broke our backs. It hit the MahaYuti hard and crippled us… We made a mistake and I ask for forgiveness,” Pawar said, adding that onion exports would no longer be halted.‘’We have decided not to ban onion exports. We have also decided to waive the electricity bills of the farmers. The government has introduced a slew of schemes for milk, cotton, soybean, and rice growers,” he said.”We are here for long-term