Shiv Sena to celebrate Diwali with drought-hit farmers, Shinde to visit Jalna, Samant Nanded

Shiv Sena has decided to celebrate Diwali this year with farmer families hit by drought in the state. Led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the party's ministers and office-bearers will visit drought-affected areas and sit with farmers for Diwali snacks. Shiv Sena leader and minister Uday Samant said that this year, farmers are "our family".

Samant said that on Diwali people celebrate with their own families, and sharing the sorrow of farmers in distress is a social responsibility. He said that responsibility does not end with financial aid alone. Standing by farmers in bad times, talking to them and giving them moral support is also necessary, he said, adding that Shiv Sena took the decision in this spirit.

Under the schedule, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will celebrate Diwali with farmers in Jalna district. Samant himself will have snacks with farmer families in Sayal village in Nanded district.

Other Shiv Sena ministers will also visit drought-hit areas and meet farmer families. Gulabrao Patil will go to Pokhari Tanda in Jalgaon district and Pratap Sarnaik to Pankhanda in Dharashiv. Dada Bhuse will visit Malegaon, while Sanjay Shirsat will go to Shindon Tanda in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Shambhuraj Desai will visit Khatav in Satara district, and Prakash Abitkar will be in Atpadi and Umbargaon in Sangli district. Bharat Gogawale will be at Bhor in Pune district, Sanjay Rathod at Mangrul in Yavatmal district and Yogesh Kadam in Palghar. Ashish Jaiswal will go to Kolithmara in Nagpur district.

Samant said rations have so far been delivered to about 7 to 7.5 lakh farmer families through Shiv Sena. The party has resolved to reach another 4 to 5 lakh families.

It has also been decided to provide tractor-mounted tankers with a capacity of 2,000 to 2,500 litres in every district so that water is easily available in drought-affected areas.

Samant clarified that celebrating Diwali with farmers is not a one-day visit or a formal event. According to him, responsibility towards farmers will not end when Diwali ends. Relief work will continue through the government, and Shiv Sena's social work will also go on.

Samant said that every year people celebrate Diwali with their families, but this time farmers are the family. According to him, every farmer in distress matters to the Mahayuti government. Going to the fields, having snacks with them and sharing in their joys and sorrows is the true spirit of this year's Diwali, he said.