Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 25: As torrential rains and floods continue to wreak havoc in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called on the government to act swiftly and comprehensively in supporting affected farmers. Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extensive crop destruction, Gandhi said in a post on X that the devastation is “extremely heartbreaking” and urged the administration to accelerate relief measures and provide full compensation to the farming community. He also appealed to Congress party workers to assist local authorities in reaching those in need.

Echoing his sentiments, NCP (Sharad Pawar) working president Supriya Sule called for a full loan waiver for farmers, describing the situation as dire. Sule urged the Central government to step in with immediate support and recommended that the state declare a "wet drought" to reflect the crisis on the ground.

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar joined the chorus, accusing the state’s Mahayuti government of failing to stand by its electoral promises. He criticised Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar for reacting angrily to calls for a loan waiver, questioning whether the state’s poor financial condition should force farmers to the brink of suicide. Wadettiwar reminded the ruling parties of their earlier pledges to waive farm loans and accused them of hiding behind schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which he claimed were announced only to win votes.

He demanded ?50,000 per hectare as compensation for the affected farmers, citing severe crop loss and pest infestations, particularly in soybean cultivation. Wadettiwar also took aim at the state leadership's ongoing visits to flood-hit areas, calling them "mere optics." He alleged that when farmers asked Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for specifics on aid, he dismissed them by saying, "Don’t do politics."

"Is asking for help now considered politics?" Wadettiwar questioned, slamming the government for offering no clarity on the financial relief package and claiming it reflects a lack of genuine intent to assist.

Wadettiwar highlighted that not only crops but also farmlands themselves have been damaged due to flooding, and therefore demanded increased assistance for land restoration. As a symbolic gesture, he pledged to donate his MLA salary for six months to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and called on legislators across party lines to do the same.

As Marathwada reels under the aftermath of the deluge, the opposition is intensifying pressure on both the state and central governments, demanding tangible action and accountability, rather than vague assurances and political deflection.