Congress readies to take on Maha govt over drought situation

Reeling under twin electoral defeats in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, Congress party in Maharashtra has decided to galvanise its cadre to take on the BJP-Sena government over its alleged failure to mitigate hardships of farmers suffering from drought and crop loss.
State Congress president Manikrao Thakre said the two party committees set up to study the drought situation in Vidarbha and Marathwada, monitor drought relief measures and interact with affected farmers on their expectations from the government, will begin their tours from January 5.
"The party cadre will hold consultations with farmers starting from gram panchayat and panchayat samiti level," he said.

Thakre said drought relief measures were always two- pronged.
"Preparing schemes for long term solutions and financial package per hectare as well as waiver of loan was short term measures to help the farmer to prepare for sowing in next season," he added.
Thakre alleged the government had failed to take steps to help farmers other than announcing a compensation for those affected by hailstorm, which is mostly in North Maharashtra from where Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse hailed.

Thakre said after the two in-house committees submit their reports to him, he would tour Vidarbha and Marathwada from middle of January.

When asked about the upcoming local bodies election in Aurangabad and Navi Mumbai municipal corporation and Thane, Palghar Zilla Parishad, Thakre said he had authorised the local party units to take a decision on the election strategy and whether the party should go alone or forge local alliances with like minded parties.
Thakre also said the party is planning to observe the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's arrival in India from South Africa.
Gandhi arrived in Mumbai on January 9, 1915.