Continuing his tirade against Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse for the latter's "insensitive" remarks against drought-hit farmers for the second consecutive day, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday rooted vehemently for the waiver of the affected farmers' electricity bills and crop loans.
Currently on a tour of drought-affected areas of Marathwada, Uddhav turned up heat once again on Khadse, when he joined an issue with the State Revenue for the latter's earlier "insensitive" comment that if the farmers had money to pay for their mobile bills what was holding them from clearing the electricity bills and the reported criticism of him that he did know any much about agriculture.
Talking to media persons at Aurangabad, Uddhav said, "Reacting to Khadse's comment, I had said yesterday that he is speaking like Ajit Pawar. Today, he is speaking like Sharad Pawar. You will recall, Sharad Pawar had made a similar comment against late Sena chief Bal Thackeray. At that time, Balasaheb had hit back at Sharad Pawar in his own style. I still remember the manner in which the Sena chief retaliated to Sharad Pawar. But, I do not want to use the words used by late Balasaheb against Khadse. You please recall as to what late Balasaheb had told Sharad Pawar then and say same thing to Khadse".
Reacting to the "mobile bills" remark, Uddhav had slammed Khadse on Monday for his "insensitive" remarks. "The BJP Ministers are emulating their counterparts in the erstwhile Congress-NCP Government. If they make such insensitive remarks, there will be no difference between the present BJP Government and the previous Congress-NCP administration".
Khadse has come in for severe flak from various quarters for his remarks made at Akola on Monday.
Criticising the farmers for defaulting on the electricity bills, Khadse had said, "They (farmers) pay their mobile bills month after month because they do not want their phone connection to get disconnected. They know if their phone gets disconnected, they will not be able to speak to anyone. Am I not rightIJ"
"If they have money to pay their mobile bills, then why they do not have money to pay their electricity billsIJ They should make it a habit to pay bills and loans," Khadse had said at Akola, which forms a part of Vidarbha region where the distressed farmers are continuing to commit suicides.
Meanwhile, making a strong case for the waiver of the electricity bills and crop loans taken by the farmers, Uddhav said at Aurangabad: " I am not politicising drought in the region. All I am insisting is that the drought-affected farmers should get immediate relief. Given the huge losses suffered by the farmers because of drought, it is but essential that the state government extended adequate help to the farmers. Instead of merely suspending the collection of electricity bills, the statement should waive the bills. It should also waive the agriculture loans taken by the farmers".
Uddhav said that he would take up the issue of the drought-affected farmers in Marathwada with Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao. "I would request the Governor to accompany Shiv Sena MlAs on a tour of the region, so that he can direct the government to take urgent relief steps...The Governor should see for himself the condition of this region and direct the government to declare it as drought-hit".