The opposition party has accused the government of delaying aid to rain-hit Maharashtra farmers, citing bureaucracy. Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal slammed BJP for indifference, urging immediate relief without waiting for a formal proposal from the state
Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal. File Pic
The Congress party on Monday accused the Union government of delaying financial assistance to farmers affected by unseasonal rains in Maharashtra, alleging that the Centre is hiding behind procedural formalities instead of offering urgent help, news agency PTI reported.
Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal criticised the BJP-led Mahayuti government, stating it has failed to secure a relief package for distressed farmers.
"At a time when farmers are in severe distress, the BJP government remains indifferent. Insisting on a formal proposal from Maharashtra before providing aid shows both insensitivity and a delaying tactic. Farmers have lost everything, what is the need to wait for a proposal?" Sapkal said in a strongly worded statement.
He added that the Centre should have announced a comprehensive relief package ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state on Sunday, PTI reported.
Sapkal’s remarks came in response to Shah's assurance a day earlier that the Central government would extend "all possible assistance" to farmers who suffered crop losses due to heavy rainfall.
The Congress leader also took a swipe at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, claiming that he went to Delhi without any formal proposal on farmer losses and returned "empty-handed", PTI reported.
Sapkal was speaking after chairing a review meeting on local body election preparations in Akola, Washim, Buldhana, Yavatmal, and Amravati, all districts from the Vidarbha region.
Commenting on the possibility of a renewed Congress–Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance for local elections, the state Congress chief said that decisions regarding alliances have been left to local units, indicating flexibility on the ground.
“The Maha Vikas Aghadi and the INDIA bloc were formed to oppose the BJP’s authoritarianism, prevent Narendra Modi and the BJP from retaining power, and to build a nation as envisioned by the Constitution,” he added.
Light to moderate showers likely in South Marathwada, Vidarbha; IMD issues yellow alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the possibility of light to moderate intermittent showers over parts of the South Marathwada region and adjoining districts of Vidarbha on Monday.
KS Hosalikar, former head of the Climate Research and Services, IMD Pune, in a post on social media platform X, said, “Possibility of light to moderate intermittent showers during the next 2–3 hours over parts of the South Marathwada region & adjacent districts of Vidarbha at isolated places.”
He further posted the detailed rainfall data till Sunday. As per official data, Parbhani taluka received the highest rainfall at 121.4 mm, followed by Palam (73 mm), Gangakhed (56 mm), Purna (55 mm), Sonpeth (51 mm), Manwat (44 mm), Pathri (21 mm), Jintur (7 mm), and Selu (5 mm).
As IMD has predicted the possibility of light to moderate intermittent showers over parts of South Marathwada and adjoining districts of Vidarbha at isolated locations on Monday, a yellow alert for the regions was issued by the authorities.
On October 4, the weather bureau had also issued a Cyclone Shakhti warning for some districts of Maharashtra. While issuing the alert, the weather agency warned about the moderate rains and gusty winds between October 3 and October 7.
(With PTI inputs)
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