Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 24: The tragic suicide of Harshal Patil, a young engineer and contractor from Walwa tehsil in Sangli district, has ignited a wave of political outrage across Maharashtra. Patil, who had undertaken work under the Jal Jeevan Mission, allegedly ended his life after waiting in vain for a government payment of Rs 1.40 crore — dues that pushed him into a debt spiral and emotional despair.

Patil had reportedly borrowed Rs 65 lakh from a private moneylender to fund the project. As state payments failed to arrive, mounting pressure and financial strain drove him to take the extreme step on Wednesday.

The incident comes amid growing unrest among thousands of contractors across Maharashtra, with pending government dues estimated at over Rs 80,000 crore. Multiple associations have been protesting the severe delays in payments for work already completed across various departments.

Opposition leaders from all corners lashed out at the ruling Mahayuti government, accusing it of gross negligence, mismanagement, and indifference.

Jayant Patil, NCP (SP) Legislative Party leader and MLA from Sangli, condemned the government for ignoring repeated warnings. “I had cautioned in the Assembly that contractors, like farmers, may resort to suicides. Harshal Patil’s death is proof that the government’s empty promises have crushed the hopes of youth striving to build their future,” he said. He demanded immediate action and a financial plan to rescue contractors from further distress.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut went further, calling Patil’s death a “culpable offence.” “This is no longer a governance issue; it is a humanitarian crisis. Maharashtra has been turned into a cremation ground for the dreams of youth and farmers alike,” he said. Raut challenged the Prime Minister to spend two days in Maharashtra and meet families who’ve lost loved ones to economic desperation.

Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the government of prioritizing “favoured big contractors” while abandoning small-scale contractors to their fate. “This government rolled out the red carpet for a few, while letting others hang dry. Financial discipline is in tatters, and the treasury is empty. Will the Finance Minister take responsibility?” he asked.

Jitendra Awhad, senior NCP (SP) leader, blamed the crisis on reckless spending on populist schemes like Ladki Bahin Yojana, calling Patil’s suicide both a financial and administrative failure. “Thousands of contractors are unpaid. This is a collapse of governance. Harshal Patil’s death is a dire warning — how many more before the government wakes up?” he said.

The political backlash adds further pressure on the Eknath Shinde-led alliance, which is already grappling with criticism over the state’s worsening financial health. Meanwhile, calls for immediate compensation for Patil’s family and an overhaul of the contractor payment system are growing louder.

As the tragedy reverberates through the state, Harshal Patil’s death has become a symbol of a deepening crisis — one that many warn could claim more lives if not urgently addressed.