Mumbai, September 19 (Daily Kiran) : The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President, Harshvardhan Sapkal, has called for the state government to immediately declare a drought. He demands that ₹50,000 be deposited directly into farmers’ bank accounts for each hectare affected and that all farmer debts be waived.
Sapkal warned that if these measures are not implemented swiftly, ministers could face public outrage, making it difficult for them to move around the state.
He stated that many regions in Maharashtra are experiencing a critical drought, with no rain for over a month, leading to the complete drying up of standing crops. He accused the BJP-led government of being indifferent to this crisis. While cabinet meetings address the issue, no concrete decisions have been made, and the responsible ministers have not visited the affected farmers.
Sapkal criticized the government for spending ₹350 crores on installing CCTV cameras for the Kumbh Mela while hesitating to release funds for farmers in dire need. Despite the urgent situation, there has been no decision to attempt cloud seeding for artificial rain.
He emphasized that public anger against the ruling coalition is at a boiling point. The administration, he claimed, is more concerned with corruption and commissions than the welfare of its citizens. He urged the government to provide assistance before the festival season and ahead of Dussehra.
Sapkal also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for lighting lamps on his birthday, questioning the appropriateness of celebrating while citizens face crises. He raised concerns over youth unemployment, women’s safety, and a deteriorating economy marked by rising inflation.
He pointed out the Prime Minister’s contradictory stance, recalling Modi’s previous appeals for simplicity, such as reducing oil consumption and limiting foreign travel, only to now ask citizens to light lamps on his birthday. He labeled this behavior as self-serving and misleading.
Furthermore, Sapkal accused the Election Commission of acting under the influence of the ruling BJP, warning that the implementation of the SIR could infringe on citizens’ voting rights, thereby undermining democracy. He stated that the Commission’s operations are leading to chaos and pledged that the Congress Party would strongly oppose these actions, continuing to fight for democracy on the streets.
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