"The situation in the state has become extremely grim due to excessive rainfall and floods. The entire Kharif season has been ruined. Farmers have suffered immense losses, yet not a single administrative officer has come to inspect the situation. With Dussehra and Diwali approaching, the chief minister is only throwing around statistics without taking any concrete decisions. Even though it is evident that a wet drought exists, the government is turning a blind eye. The question of where to get the money is the government’s problem, but compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare must be deposited into the accounts of affected farmers before Dussehra," said Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal.
On Thursday, Sapkal visited Murma and Kolibhodkha in Paithan taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, and Masai in Ambad taluka of Jalna district in the state to assess the damage caused by heavy rains. He interacted with the farmers and consoled them. Accompanying him were MP D.r Kalyan Kale, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District Congress Committee president Kiran Patil Dongavkar, Jalna District president Rajabhau Deshmukh, MPCC senior vice-president Rajendra Rakh, along with other Congress leaders. They listened to the farmers’ problems and assured them that the Congress party firmly stands with them in this difficult time.
Speaking to the media, Sapkal said the chief minister does not act according to his words. "He is an expert in making empty promises. Farmers’ fields have been washed away, their livelihoods destroyed, and their means of survival wiped out, yet the inactive Fadnavis government remains silent. The government came, took photos at the fields, and left, but nothing reached the farmers’ hands. On the contrary, the statements of the chief minister, deputy chief ministers, and ministers are outrageous. When farmers question the government, they are threatened with remarks like: “Where should we bring money from? Do we carry cash in our pockets? Don’t do politics.” Farmers and citizens have come onto the streets after losing everything to nature. If the government cannot understand this public outcry, then it is truly insensitive. The Mahayuti government’s language is arrogant and shameful," Sapkal added.
Further, Sapkal said that the government has money for Adani, money to buy over MLAs and MPs, Rs 55,000 crore for the Samruddhi Expressway, and even Rs 88,000 crore for the unnecessary Shaktipeeth Expressway. "But when it comes to giving farmers their due, suddenly there is no money—why sing this dirge?" He demanded that the chief minister and deputy chief ministers go to Delhi and bring back a special package for Maharashtra from the Central government.