MPCC leader Nana Patole will meet with the Governor to demand that the Shinde-Fadnavis administration be dismissed for being "anti-farmer"

Nana Patole, the president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), announced on Tuesday that the party would meet with Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari after Diwali to demand the resignation of the Shinde-Fadnavis administration, which he claims has been insensitive to the plight of farmers. Patole alleged that the state government was taking its time declaring a wet drought in Maharashtra despite the significant crop loss caused by the retreating monsoon and the ensuing floods.

 

After Diwali, the Congress party will start a statewide protest asking that the state government declare a wet drought right away. The Shinde-Fadnavis government is anti-farmers, hence the party would meet with the governor, BS Koshyari, to urge its dismissal, he added. Patole also attributed the surge in farmer suicides in the state to the Shinde-Fadnavis administration, which took office on June 30. Patole's demand comes at a time when almost 45 lakh farmers have been severely impacted by crop damage brought on by the devastation the retreating monsoon and water logging in the fields have wreaked.

 

Uddhav Thackeray, a former chief minister, and Ajit Pawar, the opposition leader in the state legislature, have already requested that the state government proclaim a wet drought right away and give the farmers a much-needed financial aid package. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, however, mocked Patole's petition and called it absurd. He declared that farmers wouldn't be abandoned. "Today, a majority-led administration with substantial backing was formed in the state. In the last three months, the government has made 72 significant decisions for the good of the country. The Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena won 243 seats, while the BJP won 397 in the most recent Gram Panchayat elections. The opposition continues to attack the government, but we will counter with effort," he stated.

 

According to Shinde, the district administration has been tasked with conducting a warlike panchnamas (evaluation) of the damage. Whether or not the farmers achieve the requirements, they will receive compensation. The farmers won't be abandoned. This is the government of Baliraja, the farmers. The government is on the farmers' side. We have provided compensation that is significantly higher than the NDRF regulations, he said. Chandrakant Patil, a former state BJP leader and minister for higher and technical education, asserted that everyone has the right to meet the governor in a democracy. He made fun of Mr. Patole, saying, "Mr. Patole should cheerfully go and meet the Governor, who is pretty good and offers tea to everyone."

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @NANA_PATOLE