New Delhi, Oct 5 — Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and discussed the severe drought situation in Maharashtra during an hour-long meeting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured Central assistance for farmers affected by the ongoing agrarian crisis in the state.
Shinde said PM Modi sought details regarding water availability, agricultural conditions and fodder availability for livestock, and assured the state of the Centre’s support.
Deputy Chief Minister Shinde expressed confidence that substantial assistance would be extended to Maharashtra considering the scale of the crisis.
He said farmers currently receive Rs 12,000 annually, comprising Rs 6,000 under the Centre’s Shetkari Samman Yojana and Rs 6,000 under Maharashtra’s Namo Shetkari Yojana.
Recalling the assistance provided during last year’s heavy rains, Shinde said the government would not hold back support when farmers were in distress.
“The farming community has the first right over the government treasury. When farmers are in distress, the government will not hold back assistance,” he said.
Shinde criticised the Opposition for focusing on marches, protests and allegations against PM Modi and the Union Home Minister instead of substantive public issues.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the Mahayuti coordination committee had discussed Mangesh Chivate’s candidature from the Pune Teachers’ Constituency.
He said the party had issued the AB Form and that Chivate would file his nomination on Tuesday.
On the issue of Cabinet expansion, Shinde said PM Modi, as the principal leader of the NDA, would take an appropriate decision at the appropriate time.
Responding to a question regarding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announcing its nominee for the Pune Teachers’ Constituency, Shinde said there was still time for the filing and withdrawal of nominations and asked people to wait.
The Deputy Chief Minister also targeted the UBT faction, saying those rejected by the people in elections were now talking about “burying” others politically.
Referring to Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, Shinde said he had identified PM Modi as a source of inspiration and had recited the Hanuman Chalisa during a crisis.
He contrasted this with what he described as the Opposition’s past actions against those who recited the Hanuman Chalisa.
Shinde also criticised attempts to target the High Court and the Supreme Court, saying those making such statements should remember that they themselves had not been elected by the people.
“Those living in glass houses should not throw stones at others’ houses,” he said.