Uddhav slams Pawar over proposed visit to drought-hit regions

Mumbai, Aug 13: Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray today took a dig at NCP supremo Sharad Pawar over his proposed visit to the drought-affected regions of Maharashtra, and said the veteran politician is now showing concern for farmers after 35 years.

"Congress and NCP are like empty boxes. Sharad Pawar is speaking for farmers after 35 years. What did he do for farmers when he was the Agriculture Minister?" Thackeray asked while addressing a gathering on the 55th anniversary of 'Marmik', the cartoon weekly started by his late father Balasaheb Thackeray here.

"Farmers have reached this stage today only because of their government. It needs to be known why irrigation projects were left midway despite so much amount being spent on them," he added. Pawar is scheduled to visit the drought-affected areas in Marathwada region of the state from August 15.

Taking a jibe at NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Thackeray said that care needs to be taken so that the former is not allowed to go near a dam when the party leaders go on their tour of drought-affected regions. He was referring to an incident where former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit had ridiculed a two-month-long protest by a farmer, who was demanding dam water for his parched field.

Pawar was later forced to apologise for saying if he should urinate in the dam if there was no water. The Sena President said that staging a protest has become a fashion now and that the Congress protest in Parliament did no good to the nation.

PTI