Drought-affected farmers need my time and concern: Dhananjay Munde

Dhananjay Munde, the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative council and NCP MLC said that this year, he will not celebrate Diwali. He said he will spend time with the drought-affected farmers of the Marathwada region.

Marathwada is one of the major and most drought-affected regions this year. Munde hails from this same region. He said that this year severity of drought is higher than the previous droughts. "This year drought situation is like or even more than 1972 drought. If our farmers are suffering. Their livestock are not getting an enough feed and fodder that forcing them to sale them at half prices than the normal market rates. Then, as an opposition leader and son of farmer, I decided not to celebrate the Diwali but spend time with farmers, " Munde asked.

He said that from November 6 to 12, "I will tour in drought affected Marathwada region. I will visit various part of this region and spend time with our farmers and their family members . It will help us to understand their grievances. Farmers are going through a very tough and difficult time. They not only need the moral but the financial support as well. We also need to understand the ground realities and severity of the droughts and it's ramifications. After that I will raise these issues in the upcoming state assembly's winter session in Mumbai," Munde said. Munde had already demanded Rs50,000 per hectare compensations to drought affected farmers besides other benefits.

Munde is the OBC face of the Nationalist Congress party. He lost the 2014 state assembly elections against rural development minister Pankaja Munde with 20,000 vote margins. Pankaja is daughter of senior BJP leader late Gopinath Munde while Dhananjay is nephew of Gopinath Munde. Dhananjay parted away from BJP and joined NCP over assembly election ticket.

Munde said that there is huge anger among farmers against this BJP led incumbent government. "This government has completely failed to implement the farm loan waiver scheme. Farmers are still waiting for loan waiver benefits. Besides, cotton growing farmers have not yet got the compensation against their damaged cotton farm due to bollworm. It shows that this government has failed at all fronts. Now they are celebrating its completations of four years in government. It is irony that those who provide us food are neglected by government and their suffering has been celebrated" Munde alleged.