Shiv Sena doing politics over drought, alleges Narayan Rane

Maharashtra Industries Minister and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane on Friday lashed out at Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray for "doing politics over the issue of water crisis and drought."

"Uddhav Thackeray should first study and then talk about the issue. No leader has done politics on drought, but Shiv Sena is doing it," Rane alleged.

The Sena leader, during his visit to Yavatmal earlier this month after a farmer committed suicide, had urged Union Agriculture Minister and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to resign from the Union cabinet and come to the state to protect the interest of farmers reeling under drought.

"Uddhav has not worked on any social issues. They should do some good work like organising job fairs to create employment for youth rather than making such statements," Rane opined.

On the Sena leader's earlier remark that the Maharashtra leaders rallied in New Delhi for farmers, but ignored the farmers of Maharashtra, Rane said, "Our government is there at the Centre, therefore, we can go ten times to meet the Prime Minister. That is our right."

"Uddhav only talks, nobody bothers about what he says," he rued.

Earlier this month, Uddhav visited Yavatmal district in Vidharbha region of the state where farmer - Gajanan Ghotekar committed suicide and in a note blamed the Congress and NCP for the plight of farmers.

He also appealed to the farmers not to vote for NCP and Congress.

Maharashtra government had earlier sought a financial package of Rs2,281.37 crore and five lakh tonne foodgrain at BPL rates from the Centre to tackle drought situation in as many as 15 districts in the state.