Sharad Pawar sparks controversy with drought aid allegations

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar’s allegations over drought aid to Vidarbha has created controversy in the state. He claimed that the state government asked the central government committee on drought not to go to the Vidarbha region, which is why Vidarbha was not getting adequate help on drought.

Mr Pawar blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for this situation. However, the state government denied all such allegations.

The central government team was on a tour of Maharashtra recently. The team was supposed to visit the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions to take stock of the drought situation. As per normal procedure, the team submits its report to the Union government, and the Union government’s aid to the state depends on the same. Against this backdrop, Mr Pawar alleged that the team could not go to Vidarbha because the state government asked it not to visit the region.

“The state government instructed the team not to go to Vidarbha. That’s why the team returned to Delhi after visiting just Marathwada and the nearby districts. Now, farmers from Vidarbha will not get compensation and government help on time,” said Mr Pawar.

Reacting to Mr Pawar’s statement, BJP MLC and spokesperson Girish Vyas said, “The state government has not given any such instructions. We have already asked the Union government for monetary help.”

Mr Vyas added that the state government had already carried out district-wise detailed surveys through collectors and guardian ministers and their reports were already with it. The state government has already declared severe drought in 136 tehsils of Maharashtra this year.