Shiv Sena claims credit after govt announces disbursal of Rs

The Shiv Sena today claimed credit after the government announced disbursal of Rs 21,000 crore to district central cooperative banks (DCCBs) to provide loans to farmers, a day after a delegation of its party MPs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to look into the issue.
The NDA's second largest party also said it supports the government over the demonetisation decision even though it is concerned over the "inconvenience" caused to people, days after it joined a Trinamool Congress-led protest march over the issue.
The party also rubbished reports that its delegation, which met Modi over the issue yesterday, was given an earful.

The government today allowed NABARD to disburse Rs 21,000 crore to cash-starved farmers, helping them sow winter crops like wheat ahead of the sowing season. Demonetisation move has badly hit farmers leaving them without cash just ahead of the sowing season.
"This is only and only because of the follow-up done by the Shiv Sena. This is the victory of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
"At present, we are content that steps have been taken in this regard. However, we will keep raising this issues whenever any inconvenience is caused to people," party's Lok Sabha MP Anandrao Adsul said.

The delegation had demanded that cooperative banks be allowed to carry out transactions as the rural economy of Maharashtra and other states is largely linked to these financial institutions.

"Although we joined Mamata Banerjee in the protest march and met the President, our memorandum was different from what she was demanding. We never asked for roll back of the drive, but we are more concerned with the way it is implemented and the inconvenience caused to people.
"We explained our stand to the PM," party's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said.
Modi then went onto to say that 'How can I (Modi) leave you (the Shiv Sena). I don't know what you will do, but I have to answer (late Shiv Sena supremo) Balasaheb (Thackeray)', he said.
"The entire conversation was in a very playful and jovial manner," Adsul, said.

The Shiv Sena has been having an uneasy relationship with the BJP ever since the two parties parted ways ahead of the 2014 polls.