Saamana slams Mahayuti govt over dry fruits served at Maharashtra drought review meeting

The Shiv Sena UBT has launched a sharp attack on the Mahayuti government accusing it of insensitivity and extravagance at a time when parts of Maharashtra are grappling with droughtlike conditions caused by deficient rainfallIn an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana the Thackerayled faction warned that Maharashtra was heading towards what it described as a ldquodemonic rule of fear hunger and thirstrdquo as the monsoon retreats leaving behind the shadow of severe drought IANS reportedSaamana targets government over Nanded meetingThe editorial claimed that farmers across Marathwada North Maharashtra and Vidarbha had been left helpless as standing crops including soybean cotton bajra maize tur moong and urad were damaged due to inadequate rainfallIt accused the government of being focused on political manoeuvring and rivalry instead of addressing the concerns of farmersThe editorial also highlighted a recent drought review meeting in Nanded chaired by Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne where videos showed plates of cashews and almonds being served to ministers and elected representatives The incident triggered criticism after the footage surfaced on social mediaSaamana described the episode as ldquorubbing salt on the open wounds of farmersrdquo contrasting the situation of farmers facing crop losses with the dry fruits being served at the meetingMP defends eating dry fruitsThe editorial also referred to remarks by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Jadhav who defended eating the dry fruits during the meetingJadhav said he had arrived without having breakfast and questioned the criticism over the food served at the meeting His remarks subsequently drew further criticism from the OppositionThe Saamana editorial criticised the response and questioned the governmentrsquos sensitivity towards farmers facing crop lossesChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis meanwhile said the administration was responsible for the arrangements at the meeting and stressed that greater sensitivity should have been shown IANS reportedThackeray faction questions drought relief measuresThe editorial questioned the governmentrsquos assurances regarding crop assessments known as panchnamas and financial assistance to affected farmersIt also criticised the statersquos farm loan waiver alleging that despite multiple lists being published many farmers had not benefited from the scheme Saamana sarcastically suggested a Rs 5000 reward for anyone who could identify a farmer who had actually received a loan waiver the news agency reportedThe editorial further alleged that drought relief funds could be distributed along partisan lines favouring constituencies represented by rulingparty MLAs while discriminating against Oppositionheld areasSaamana questions lavish celebrations amid droughtThe editorial also criticised the use of oil to light thousands of lamps during Prime Minister Narendra Modirsquos birthday celebrations questioning whether such displays would help address the drought situation in MaharashtraShiv Sena UBT lists measures for farmersThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena UBT called on the government to immediately declare a statewide drought without waiting for procedural delaysIt also demanded direct assistance of Rs 50000 per hectare for affected farmers a complete waiver of agricultural loans without arbitrary conditions and a waiver of tuition fees for children of droughtaffected farmersThe party further called for fodder camps and adequate drinking water supplies in affected regions along with a special session of the Maharashtra Legislative AssemblyIt also proposed setting up an allparty task force to coordinate droughtrelief measuresThe Saamana editorial concluded by contrasting the hardships faced by droughthit farmers with the dry fruits served during the Nanded review meeting questioning the governmentrsquos sensitivity towards the crisisWith IANS inputs