States » WestPosted at: Oct 15 2026 8:23PM


Maha: Opposition ridicules Fadnavis for Rs 5,000 Diwali gift to drought-hit farmers

Mumbai, Oct 15 (UNI) Opposition parties, like the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, today ridiculed the paltry Rs 5,000 assistance given to drought-hit farmers in Maharashtra just before Diwali festival.
Maharashtra Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal has demanded that the Fadnavis government should provide farmers with Rs 1 lakh per hectare.
“At a time of soaring inflation, how can farmers celebrate Diwali with just Rs 5,000,” Sapkal told media persons after he visited drought-hit areas in Kinwad, Malegaon, Pandav Umra, Tandali and Kamathwada in Washim district to assess the situation.
Speaking to media persons, Sapkal said that, “The failure of rains for more than 75 days, along with rising temperatures, had completely devastated the kharif season. Crops have withered, soybean pods are empty, and hopes of a good harvest have faded. Farmers are struggling with tears in their eyes and mounting debt on their shoulders. Even as the natural calamity has devastated farmers, the insensitivity of the BJP-led Mahayuti government has only added to their suffering.”
Sapkal said that the Devendra Fadnavis government which has made tall claims about ensuring a happy Diwali for farmers, has announced an assistance of just Rs 5,000, effectively mocking their plight.
Sapkal condemned the government for insulting the suffering of farmers and shirking its responsibility.
“Farmers do not want meagre financial assistance. They need comprehensive relief of Rs 1 lakh per hectare and a complete loan waiver”.
Sapkal demanded fodder camps to be set up immediately for cattle, giving agricultural labourers receive ex-gratia assistance, waiver of fees for students as well as proper arrangements for drinking water.
He also demanded that the government stop its charade of surveys, meetings as well as announcements and instead transfer relief directly into bank accounts of farmers.
In a related development, senior Udhhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena leader Ambadas Danve posted a tweet on X saying, “We, Shiv Sainiks, will deposit Rs 5,000 in the account of the minister who can do the following things with the money Fadnavis gave farmers for Diwali.”
“The minister must purchase groceries, clothes for children, paint for the residence, a kilo of sweets, one litre of oil for oil lamps, two packets of crackers and a saree. If any minister in the Fadnavis government pulls off such a feat without spending more than Rs 5000, we will deposit Rs 5,000 in his bank account along with an additional reward of Rs 1,000,” hed tweeted.
The tweet by Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena leader Ambadas Danve has gone viral on social media.
Meanwhile, farmers in Hingoli district of Maharashtra, which is reeling under a severe drought, threw wads of Rs 5,000 in front of the Goregaon upper tehsil office in Hingoli, to protest against the meagre assistance given by the Fadnavis government.
Reacting to the incident, Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Rohit Pawar said that the meagre drought assistance of Rs 5,000 means that the government has cheated the farmers.
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