What will Rs 5,000 aid give farmers, Aaditya Thackeray asks government

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) leader Aaditya Thackeray sharply criticised the state government over the plight of farmers, delayed financial assistance, crop insurance and loan waiver. He asked what good an aid of Rs 5,000 would do for farmers. He alleged that the government spends crores of rupees on official events, but help is not reaching farmers in distress.

According to Thackeray, the aid money has not yet been deposited in farmers' accounts. Drinking water scarcity has also hit many areas. He demanded that the government find a middle path and give farmers adequate financial assistance. Targeting the Chief Minister, Thackeray said, "Fly around in aeroplanes, travel around in cars, but come and see the condition of the farmers. Can you not see their plight?"

He also targeted the government on crop insurance and loan waiver. He said farmers had suffered heavy losses and had still not received last year's crop insurance. He demanded that the government say who will give a fair price for farm produce and what happened to the loan waiver that was announced.

MNS president Raj Thackeray has decided to cancel the Diwali Deepotsav. Responding to this, Aaditya Thackeray said big events were being scaled down and the public showed sensitivity, but the government did not.

On the controversy over Dia Mirza's video about firecrackers, Thackeray accused the BJP. He claimed the Mumbai municipal corporation had written to artists asking them to make a video appealing to people not to burst firecrackers. He said people of all religions suffer from pollution, yet Dia Mirza was being targeted because of her surname, he alleged. He asked that if those who speak up for the environment are called urban Naxals or anti-national, would those fighting to save forests be called the same.

On the matter involving Congress MP Shyamkumar Barve, Thackeray said he had not yet seen the video and would react only after watching it. Referring to an alleged video of teachers being assaulted in Mumbai, he said both cases should be taken cognisance of.

He also targeted the BJP on the Gokul milk union issue. He alleged that over the past few years the BJP had practised politics of splitting various opposition parties, and was now trying to interfere in the cooperative sector as well. Citing the splits in the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, he criticised the BJP's politics.

On the Mumbai bus depot case, Thackeray was cautious. He said that according to initial information it was a dispute between a private developer and the Mumbai municipal corporation, and he would react only after getting full details.

Speaking about Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, he demanded his removal from the post. He said strict action should be taken against those who commit vote theft and tamper with the election process, and those who help in such irregularities should also be held accountable. He also demanded an inquiry into the alleged atrocities on youth and women during the agitation.

He also questioned the government on farmer organisations having to agitate over sugarcane prices. Thackeray said that in Uttar Pradesh, moves to raise cane prices begin as elections draw near, and asked when the government would attend to the questions of Maharashtra's farmers.

On office-bearers of the Thackeray faction in Hingoli joining the Shinde faction, Thackeray said only those who accept hatred of Maharashtra and corruption are going to that faction. He demanded that elections be held on ballot paper and claimed there would be a change of power in the state. Asked about US President Donald Trump, he said, "Our trump card is the public."