Sapkal dares Fadnavis to celebrate Diwali on Rs 5,000 drought relief given to farmers

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Wednesday challenged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to celebrate Diwali on just Rs 5,000. That is the amount the state government has announced as interim financial assistance for drought-hit farmers.

Targeting the Mahayuti government, Sapkal said prices were rising on one hand while the relief reaching farmers was very little on the other. He called the Rs 5,000 aid a "cruel joke". He alleged that the government was shying away from paying farmers adequate compensation.

The Congress president demanded compensation of Rs 1 lakh per hectare for drought-affected farmers. He said the government was ignoring the farmers' financial hardships.

Speaking to reporters, Sapkal said the interim aid announced by the state government was not enough to ease farmers' difficulties, especially when prices of goods were continuously climbing. He asked Fadnavis to run his own Diwali expenses on the amount being given to farmers ruined by drought.

Sapkal alleged, "The government cares only for a handful of industrialists and has nothing to do with the interests of farmers and common people." He also said the state government was not willing to give affected farmers compensation of Rs 1 lakh per hectare.

Sapkal's statement came on the day Chief Minister Fadnavis said that Rs 5,000, the first instalment of drought relief, had reached the accounts of 73 lakh farmers across the state before Diwali. According to Fadnavis, about 95 per cent of the eligible farmers are expected to receive the aid in the next two days.

Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said the delay in the money reaching some beneficiaries was due to problems with their bank accounts.

Sapkal questioned whether the relief was adequate at all. He said the government was unable to address the concerns of farmers and ordinary citizens.

Sapkal was speaking to reporters after a joint meeting of the Congress's Lok Sabha, Assembly and district in-charges and district presidents of the Konkan region. The meeting had been called to discuss organisational matters and the party's political strategy in the region.