Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ashok Chavan, who is on a two-day visit to the district, today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the drought problem in the state.
Lamenting the government's stand over "worsening" drought situation in the state, Chavan said, "Maharashtra Chief Minister did not get a proper response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi". Fadnavis is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister today in connection with the issue.
The Prime Minister should visit the state and see the drought problem by himself and address the farmers' woes, he said.
The former state Chief Minister said that in wake of the water crisis prevalent in Osmanabad and other districts, people were migrating to metro cities, and problems like unemployment have become big.
He demanded complete loan waiver for farmers and distribution of free seeds and fertilizers for the coming crop season from the government.
MPCC Secretary Ramkishan Ojha, Ausa MLA Basavraj Patil, ex-minister Madhukar Chavhan and several Congress leaders accompanied Chavhan on his visit.
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Chavan further said Fadanvis should have taken an
all-party delegation along while meeting the Prime Minister.
He accused the Chief Minister of not being "serious" in dealing with the drought in the state, which is a "national disaster".
He said the people of Maharashtra were dissatisfied as the government was not giving quick relief to farmers, and lamented that the drought relief package accepted by the Chief Minister was a "late" action.
The Congress leader, who attended four 'Dushkal Parishads' (drought relief councils) today, also called the state's ruling allies BJP and Shiv Sena "pocketmar" (pickpockets) while criticising the latter for blaming the state government.
