Drought-affected farmers not getting assistance: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said drought-affected farmers were not getting the sanctioned financial assistance.

Thackeray, whose party is in power in Maharashtra along with BJP, asked his MLAs to raise the issue during the Winter Session of the state legislature beginning in Nagpur from December 7. “During my recent tour of the drought-affected regions of Marathwada, it was brought to my notice that financial assistance sanctioned for drought-hit farmers had not been distributed,” he told reporters at the Shiv Sena Bhavan.

“If not given to the needy farmers, where is the money going,” he questioned.

Replying to questions, the Sena leader slammed Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh for saying the Maharashtra government had sent proposal for financial package late. “Does the minister (Singh) expect that he should know about the drought-condition before it is actually experienced. His statement is shocking and unfortunate,” Thackeray said.

PTI