Pune/Mumbai: Maharashtra agriculture minister Dattatray Bharne on Saturday said he would ensure that only tea and water are served at all forthcoming drought-related meetings, after a controversy erupted over ministers, MPs and MLAs being seen eating cashews and almonds during a review meeting on the drought-like situation in Marathwada in Nanded earlier in the day.
“My meeting lasted for over four hours, during which the authorities of all eight districts made their presentations related to crop damage, water availability, etc. I learned about the controversy after the meeting ended. “Providing dry fruits during official meetings is standard practice.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar alleged in a post on X that there was no “seriousness” in the government’s approach to tackling the grave drought-like situation. “The state govt must convene a special assembly session to discuss the issue,” he said. Bharne told HT that he learned of the controversy only after the meeting. I have decided to instruct concerned government officials to ensure that only tea and water are served during such meetings in future,” he said. Fadnavis said the administration should have exercised greater discretion while making arrangements for the meeting. But officials must exercise discretion and avoid serving such food items during meetings where deliberations are about sensitive issues,” he said. Bharne described the situation in Marathwada’s eight districts as “grave”, saying all 76 talukas were facing crop damage, fodder shortages and drinking water scarcity due to deficient rainfall. He said the government would seek maximum compensation and assistance for affected farmers and directed officials to complete crop-cutting experiments promptly to ensure farmers benefit from crop insurance schemes.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, meanwhile, blamed the administration, saying it should have shown greater sensitivity while organising the meeting. State cabinet minister Sanjay Shirsat also defended the politicians, saying they could not be blamed for what was served to them. Over 400 farmers died by suicide in the Marathwada region.
“Farmers have lost their crops due to rain deficit, and are facing drinking water shortages too.
The opposition criticised the politicians as “insensitive” for eating costly dry fruits while farmers face severe distress. In such situations, these leaders eating cashews and almonds shows their insensitivity towards the farmers and the drought situation,” said Ambadas Danve, a Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator. “The officials should be more careful,” he said.
