Shinde to visit Jalna on Mon interact with drought-hit farmers observe Diwali with their kin

Jalna, Nov 8 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will visit Jalna on Monday to interact with drought-hit farmers and observe Diwali with their kin.

Officials here said he will visit Shri Rameshwari Mahadev Sansthan at Maujpuri village in Jalna tehsil at 2 pm, where he will interact directly with drought-hit farmers and listen to their grievances.

He will take stock of crop losses, water scarcity, fodder shortages for livestock, unemployment and financial difficulties. He will also meet affected farming families and mark Diwali with them, the officials added.

Jalna Shiv Sena MLA Arjun Khotkar, who reviewed the preparations for Shinde's visit, said drought had deprived many farming families of the joy of Diwali.

There was need to stand by them during this difficult period, he said and urged farmers, agricultural labourers, citizens and party workers to attend Shinde's programme in large numbers.

The visit is also likely to bring back focus on the audio clip released here by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange last month about a Rs 500 crore payment to him through Shinde's Lok Sabha MP son Shrikant Shinde. Shinde and Jarange have refuted claims made in the audio clip.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)