MUMBAI:
A political dispute has intensified in Maharashtra over the government’s response to the drought situation in parts of the state, with Congress legislators from Vidarbha demanding relief measures for affected farmers.
Congress legislators have criticised the BJP-led Mahayuti government over what they described as the absence of a major compensation package for farmers. They have also pointed to Karnataka’s drought-relief measures while raising their demands in Maharashtra.
A BJP minister said the government was conducting crop-wise assessments and that relief measures would be announced after the assessment was completed. The government has therefore indicated that the scale of assistance would be determined after the assessment process.
The exchange between the ruling coalition and opposition comes as agricultural concerns remain a major political issue in Vidarbha and other drought-affected areas of Maharashtra. The final relief package will depend on the government’s assessment and subsequent decisions.