Sena to launch drive against moneylenders in M'wada : Uddhav

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Sep 18 (UNI) As part of its bid to fight for the cause of farmers, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray today said his party would begin a drive against the moneylenders who have forcefully grabbed the farm-lands of farmers in Marathwada.

Addressing a news conference here before leading a condemnation morcha against the failure of the Democratic Front (DF) government on the eve of State Cabinet meeting here today, Mr Thackeray said district chiefs of the Shiv Sena would launch the agitation in Marathwada to get back the farm-lands of the farmers from the moneylenders, which they have grabbed illegally.

The agitation would be a 'Sena Style' with district chiefs leading the drive in Marathwada.

The Sena leader criticised the DF Government for its complete failure in addressing the devastating flood and in combating terrorism.

In a memorandum to the state Chief Minister, the Sena has demanded relief to the flood-affected people of Marathwada in line with the assistance given to the Tsunami-affected people in Southern India.

''Though the deaths in the floods were less in Maharashtra compared to the Tsunami tragedy, the sudden change in the life style of the flood-affected people is much dangerous than the tsunami victims,'' Mr Thackeray said.

Former Lok Sabha speaker Manohar Joshi demanded waiver of electricity bills to the flood-affected people on this occasion.

Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Ramdas Kadam alleged that beyond assurances, nothing would come out of the State Cabinet meeting which began here today to take a review of the issues of the backward Marathwada region.

Alleging that internal rivalry between the two heavy-weight ministers Dr Patangrao Kadam and Revenue Minister Narayan Rane has become an hurdle in various developmental works, pending implementation even after the Cabinet nod Mr Kadam said the state government did not receive anything out of the Rs 10,000 cr proposal it had sent to the Centre for rehabilitation of the flood-affected people, last year.

In a 11-point memorandum submitted to the state Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Sena executive president demanded complete rehabilitation of the flood-affected farmers, whose farm-lands have turned infertile due to the flood.

The flood-affected farmers should be given Rs 25,000 per hectare compensation with immediate effect, the party demanded. It has also suggested the government to declare the flood as a 'national calamity' and demanded Rs 25,000 each to the flood-affected people for re-construction of their houses, devastated in the flood.

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