CM to suspend yatra, chair meet as oppn slams him over yatra

Facing flak for carrying on with his mass outreach campaign despite rains battering many parts of the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has decided to temporarily suspend the programme and chair a cabinet meeting here on Wednesday.

According to sources, the chief minister will be taking a break from the campaign and review the situation with officials concerned in Mumbai.

He will also chair the cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, they said.

When asked about Fadnavis resuming his ongoing 'Maha Janadesh Yatra' after a break, organisers maintained the CM will first coordinate with various departments and streamline the rescue operations.

Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts have been badly affected due to heavy rains in the last couple of days, resulting in water-logging in many areas and affecting thousands of people.

Earlier in the day, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar had criticised the chief minister for carrying on with his 'Maha Janadesh Yatra' even though rains and floods have thrown the normal life out of gear.

Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting in Akola, the chief minister hailed the Centre's move to withdraw the special status of Kashmir.

"Every Indian is feeling proud over the development. The country is with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.

He said the farm loan waiver scheme in Maharashtra will continue till each and every eligible farmer gets covered.

Fadnavis said Akola district has received a grant of Rs 600 crore towards loan waiver.

"Through the Chief Minister's Gram Sadak Yojana, Maharashtra has constructed 30,000 kms of roads in the last five years. Five years ago, Maharashtra was ranked 18th in the country in the field of education, but has now jumped to the third position," he added.