Govt Doing Needful, Says Maharashtra CM On Pawar's Letter On Drought
Devendra Fadnavis dubs Rahul Gandhi as 'anarchist'
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said his government is taking the drought-like situation in the state seriously and was coming up with measures to deal with it and provide relief to farmers. Speaking to reporters about NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar's letter on the prevailing situation due to lack of adequate rain, Fadnavis said his government would consider suggestions made by the former Union agriculture minister.
"Pawar saheb is a senior leader. It is a matter of happiness he has sent a letter. I do not want to give any political colour to it. I feel the state government is doing what it needs to do. If we have received suggestions from him, or if he has given us suggestions in such a situation, we will certainly listen to them," he said.
Pawar had urged Fadnavis to take immediate measures in view of the rainfall deficit and crop losses in several parts of Maharashtra. The veteran leader has sought, among other measures, declaration of drought in severely affected areas and financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare for farmers.
The chief minister made it clear that the state would provide assistance to farmers without waiting for financial help under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
The crop damage assessment required for a NDRF proposal (for relief) would be undertaken after October 5, Fadnavis added.
Asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Election Commission of India's decision in the Trinamool Congress case, Fadnavis said the "mentality" of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is "anarchist" and his objective was to undermine constitutional institutions.
On Thursday, the ECI temporarily removed the All India Trinamool Congress name and its 'flowers and grass symbol' from the ballot during the October 6 West Bengal bypolls, barring both rival factions from using the political identity associated with Mamata Banerjee and her party for nearly three decades.
Gandhi's objective is that people's trust in constitutional bodies is lost, and once that happens then trust in democracy itself will also be lost, Fadnavis said.
Gandhi is taking the Constitution in his hand and then sowing the idea that faith in it should be lost, the CM alleged.
"There is an attempt to completely discredit these institutions somewhere, so that people's faith in these institutions is lost. Rahul Gandhi has been continuously doing this kind of thing. Rahul Gandhi's mentality is anarchist," Fadnavis said.
The senior BJP leader said Gandhi has been unable to accept the fact that the people of India have rejected his leadership.
"The day he understands why people of India are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, perhaps this continuous losing of elections will stop. And he will get some benefit," Fadnavis said in a further swipe at Gandhi.
