The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP from Baramati, Supriya Sule, on Monday said the absence of a government was delaying much-needed relief to farmers hit hard by unseasonal rain. She said there was widespread anger among farmers and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena of being irresponsible in not forming the government in the State.
‘Unfulfilled promises’
Ms. Sule, after surveying ravaged fields in Purandar in her Lok Sabha constituency, said the outgoing BJP-Sena government has not yet fulfilled its promise to waive farm loans. She said it is doubtful that the Chief Minister’s announcement of a ₹10,000-crore relief package will reach the distressed farmers. Ms. Sule said, “There is tremendous anger among farmers here [in Purandar]. No political machinery is in place even nearly 12 days after the declaration of results. Authorities and ruling party leaders are rarely to be seen on the field.” On the relief package, she said the BJP and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have promised astronomical sums in the past, but none of the promised aid has reached farmers on the ground.
Ms. Sule also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. She said both leaders had collectively held more than 20 election rallies in Maharashtra before the Assembly polls, but are nowhere to be seen when the State’s famers are in desperate need of support.
After interacting with farmers in her constituency, Ms. Sule said, “How can the government expect harried farmers, who are facing an existential crisis, to fill online petitions for compensation? The damage assessment procedure is extremely slow and hardly any panchnamas have been done. There is no machinery in place as there is no government formed owing to the power struggle between these two parties.”
Ms. Sule’s visit coincided with that of BJP State chief Chandrakant Patil, who is visiting affected regions in Baramati and Maval taluks. The two leaders came face-to-face during their visits and Ms. Sule presented a ‘bouquet’ of rotting crops and fruits to Mr. Patil.
Mr. Patil assured that all afflicted farmers would receive aid and directed officials to complete panchnamas by Wednesday. He said the relief package was based on a “primary estimate” and the figure would be increased. Mr. Patil said, “This figure is bound to increase as and when the panchnamas get done. We are trying to collect information on how many farmers have insurance. We will also provide a substantial amount if the farmers’ insurance claim money falls short.” The BJP State chief said the crisis was unprecedented and unseasonal showers had destroyed rice, maize, soybean crops and several fruit fields.
Earlier, Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr. Deepak Mhaisekar said unseasonal rain had ruined over 1.36 lakh hectares of cropland in Pune, Satara, Sangli and Solapur districts, affecting farmers across 51 taluks in the Pune division.
