Maharashtra rains: Stop indulging in mud-slinging, Uddhav Thackeray urges Opposition

Calling upon the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to desist from enjoying politics over the devastation wrought by the retreating monsoon, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday assured farmers that the “Maha Vikas Aghadi” authorities wouldn’t depart them in the lurch.

Also learn: Maharashtra rain: Centre should step in to assist farmers, says Pawar

Speaking after visiting elements of rain-wracked Solapur district, Mr. Thackeray mentioned the State authorities had not introduced particulars of an help package deal but just because the disaster was not but over.

“I have not yet made any announcement as the crisis is not yet over. We are collecting information regarding the extent of crop and property damage, the process of panchanamas [assessing damages] is already under way. We have already started providing immediate financial assistance to the families of those who have died in rain-related incidents,” he mentioned. It was pointless asserting one thing in a rush because the Meteorological division had forecast extra rains until October 24, he mentioned.

Stating that the precedence for the administration now could be to keep away from any additional lack of life, Mr. Thackeray appealed to farmers to not despair of their scenario whereas remarking that the State authorities would strategy the Centre for any assist wanted.

Also learn: Rain-hit farmers in Maharashtra cease Minister’s convoy, search help

“The State government will leave no stone unturned in helping farmers. If needed, only then we will be approaching the Centre for financial assistance. I have had a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday who has assured me of every possible help,” he mentioned, exhorting the Opposition to not remodel the disaster right into a “Centre versus State” state of affairs.

The politics over extra rain was in full power with former Chief Minister and BJP’s Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis pointedly commencing his tour of rain-hit areas from Baramati — the bastion of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar.

Mr. Fadnavis criticised the Thackeray authorities for allegedly ready for the Centre to step in with out declaring monetary help of its personal accord.

“The Centre will help. It has done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future as well. Prime Minister Modi, too, has assured Maharashtra of all help. But why isn’t the State declaring its own assistance package? Last year, we had announced a ₹10,000-crore package at the time of the Sangli-Kolhapur floods without waiting for the Centre to declare aid,” mentioned Mr. Fadnavis.

Also learn: Fadnavis to tour Maharashtra’s rain-affected districts from October 19

Mr. Thackeray, with out naming Mr. Fadnavis, mentioned in Solapur as an alternative of canvassing for the Bihar polls (the place Mr. Fadnavis had been appointed incharge), all of us collectively must be in search of reduction for Maharashtra’s farmers to the Centre.

“We have started giving immediate relief to the rain-afflicted… The Centre is not a ‘foreign’ government. It is the Centre’s duty to come to the aid of any State suffering from a natural calamity. And I think after my phone call with Mr. Modi, I am convinced that if we request the Prime Minister for aid, he will never refuse us,” mentioned the Chief Minister, urging the Opposition to not indulge in political mud-slinging.

Mr. Thackeray sought to dispel the notion, being bolstered by the State BJP management, of his not being on the sphere to watch the scenario.

“I have been continuously monitoring this situation and have been in constant communication with authorities. It isn’t as if I have come to be aware of it just today,” he mentioned, assuring farmers that he could be visiting stricken areas on Tuesday and Wednesday as nicely.

Also learn: Retreating monsoon wreaks havoc throughout Maharashtra

Earlier, Mr. Pawar, too, had tried to defend the Chief Minister by saying the MVA management had determined that Mr. Thackeray ought to stay at a central place to watch the scenario.

“We had advised him [Mr. Thackeray] to remain at one place while the other leaders would be touring the afflicted regions…after all, the person who holds all the administrative threads must stay at one place to make decisions,” Mr. Pawar mentioned in Tuljapur.

Stressing that there was no administrative failure, Mr. Thackeray additionally mentioned the showers, not seen by farmers in many years, had been falling with a peculiar depth.

In response, Mr. Fadnavis hit out on the Chief Minister and the MVA authorities remarking that it was unlucky that it was left to a senior chief like Mr. Pawar to defend the shortcomings of the MVA authorities.

He claimed that it was solely after the BJP leaders had declared their excursions that the guardian Ministers of the ruling MVA authorities had belatedly introduced their visits.

Visiting Maladgaon in Baramati, Mr. Fadnavis mentioned: “This is a deplorable situation. In the last eight days, no one from the district administration has made contact with the villagers. There is no aid for them. There is no electricity here as the pole has been washed away in the flood. If this village, right under the nose of the State government, is in this awful state, then one can only imagine the condition of rain-hit villages in the Marathwada.”