08 November,2026 02:08 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for celebrating Diwali with drought-hit farmers in Nagpur district, describing his gesture of spending time with affected families as "very touching".
PM Modi said the chief minister's initiative reflected the compassion with which the NDA government in Maharashtra was working to support farmers and safeguard their well-being.
"This gesture by Maharashtra CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis Ji, of spending Diwali with farmers in Lohari Sawanga village (Narkhed, Nagpur) and staying at the residence of Arunabai and Rambhau Balpande is very touching," Modi said in a response to Fadnavis' social media post about his Diwali visit.
Fadnavis spent Diwali with farmers in Lohari Sawanga village in Narkhed tehsil of Nagpur district. He also stayed overnight at the home of local farmers Arunabai and Rambhau Balpande.
The chief minister said that wiping away the tears of farmers was the true meaning of Diwali for him.
In a post in Marathi, Fadnavis said he had the opportunity to celebrate the festival with farmers in a village known for the historical Hemadpanthi Shiva temple and the natural surroundings of the Kanhan river.
Fadnavis said his interaction with drought-affected farmers gave him an opportunity to understand their hardships, concerns and anxieties about their families' futures.
He said the warm welcome extended by the Balpande family had touched him, adding that their affection and hospitality made the visit memorable.
"While Diwali is being celebrated with enthusiasm across the country, the state's farmers are worried. Their minds are burdened by crops scorched by nature's wrath, financial distress and concerns about their children's education," he said.
The chief minister said the impact of crop losses extended beyond agricultural production, affecting the financial security and future aspirations of entire farming families.
Fadnavis said every farmer's crop represented a year's worth of hard work, sacrifices and hopes for the future of the family.
He noted that each harvest carried expectations of prosperity, but unpredictable weather and crop damage could place those aspirations at risk.
"Today, I experienced this pain firsthand. That is why my sincere effort is to go beyond meetings, decisions, schemes or financial assistance in the secretariat, to sit beside the farmers, understand their difficulties, wipe away their tears and offer a helping hand to help them get back on their feet," he said.
During his interaction with farmers, Fadnavis also discussed possible measures to prevent damage to rabi crops.
His visit came amid concerns over drought conditions and agricultural losses in several parts of Maharashtra. The chief minister said he wanted to understand farmers' difficulties through direct interaction rather than relying only on official meetings and government assistance programmes.
(With inputs from PTI)
