Raut says one-day Diwali at farmers' homes won't ease distress, urges firm government decisions

The Chief Minister and other ministers have resolved to celebrate Diwali at farmers' homes this time. Devendra Fadnavis visited a farmer's home in Nagpur district and stayed there. Other ministers, including Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, followed the same path. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to celebrate Diwali with soldiers. Sanjay Raut, MP of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, reacted today. He said this should not remain merely an event.

According to Raut, the idea that all ministers and the Chief Minister will celebrate Diwali at farmers' homes is a good one. He said there is drought in the state and farmers are restless. Raut said ministers should now go and see whether the Rs 5,000 aid given by the government is enough. He said they would find out once they reach the farmers' homes and the edges of their fields.

Raut also said there is no point in criticising the Chief Minister for celebrating Diwali at farmers' homes. In his view, this is the government's attempt to show that it stands with farmers. But Raut said that celebrating Diwali at a farmer's home for one day will not reduce the farmer's sorrow, and his questions will not end. The government will have to take very firm decisions. Raut said the government will have to reach farmers' homes and fields again and again.

On the Prime Minister, Raut said he has been celebrating Diwali with soldiers for the last few years. But Raut asked whether celebrating Diwali with soldiers stops Chinese incursions, or stops incidents such as Pulwama and Pahalgam. He said this is a one-day programme, and asked what comes next.

On the Chief Minister celebrating Diwali at a farmer's home, Raut said there is nothing new in it, as earlier Chief Ministers have also held such programmes. According to him, there is nothing special to praise, because this is the duty of the Chief Minister and rulers. They should go and see the condition of farmers. Raut said the Chief Minister is sitting cross-legged at a farmer's home eating Diwali snacks, and he also asked whether those snacks were really made at that farmer's home or were provided by the district collector.