The Congress and NCP today staged a walkout from Maharashtra Legislative Assembly after accusing the government of failing to secure adequate financial aid from Centre to tackle drought-like situation in fourteen districts that are worst affected.
The opposition MLAs staged a walkout when their demand for suspension of Question Hour and taking up important discussion on drought situation was not granted even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar spoke on the 'last week resolution' and on damage caused to crop due to shortage of rainfall, respectively.
The MLAs walked out and did not return to the House until proceedings for the day were concluded.
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Both Fadnavis and Mungantiwar spoke even as Opposition benches remained empty.
The winter session of the state legislature was prorogued today.
During the entire session, the Opposition repeatedly demanded a complete loan waiver for distressed farmers.
Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse dismissed the charge levelled by the Opposition.
"A report on drought situation was sent to Centre well in time and in November against the practice of sending it in January. Moreover, the government has made a provision of Rs 4000 crore in the Supplement demands and another fund of Rs 920 cores was available from MDRF account," he said.
Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar said the Centre was "unresponsive" to state government.
"The Centre has released funds to Manipur, Chattisgrah and Odisha governments to deal with the crisis but Maharashtra has been totally neglected," he said.
