Amidst the grim situation and a surge in farmer suicides, the Congress party has called upon the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government, led by Eknath Shinde, to declare a drought in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region.
“Several parts of the state are grappling with a severe drought. In Marathwada, the rainfall deficit has resulted in a significant rise in farmer suicides. Currently, the Jayakwadi reservoir holds just 40% of its capacity, and the Bombay High Court has directed the release of water from upstream reservoirs to Jayakwadi. Given the conditions in Marathwada, the government should promptly declare a drought,” stated Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole after a meeting of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee’s Marathwada division held in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Former Chief Minister and former State Congress President Ashok Chavan were also in attendance.
The day-long meeting on Tuesday saw representatives from districts including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Beed.
Patole remarked, “A comprehensive review of all eight districts in Marathwada was conducted. We are evaluating the implementation status of decisions made during the Udaipur camp meeting. Our focus is on fortifying organizational bonds and ensuring that Congress principles permeate every unit. The Congress party has advocated for a caste-based census, a stance taken during the Udaipur camp. There appears to be a conflict between two communities regarding reservation issues.”
“In 2014, the BJP had promised reservations for the Maratha, Dhangar, Gowari, and Thakur communities. However, despite the BJP securing power at the national and state levels, these reservations were not provided. Although the census was slated for 2021, it has yet to be conducted; the BJP has yet to initiate the process,” Patole added.
He criticized the BJP, stating, “The central BJP government is attempting to intimidate the opposition. It is fostering an atmosphere of autocracy and fear, misusing central agencies. Even senior Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been subjected to intense scrutiny by the BJP government. Sonia Gandhi was summoned to the ED office when she was unwell under the pretense of an investigation, causing her distress. The humiliation inflicted on Sonia ji and Rahul ji by the BJP government is something that Congress workers will not forget.”