Drought takes centrestage in Maharashtra assembly, as budget session gets off to stormy start

The issue of severe drought in various parts of Maharashtra assumed centrestage on Wednesday as budget session of state legislature began in Mumbai, with opposition members shouting slogans, alleging government’s inaction in tackling the crisis. [caption id=“attachment_2665098” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] As soon as Governor C Vidyasagar Rao reached Vidhan Bhawan to deliver his address to the state Assembly and Council members, the opposition Congress and NCP members rose to their feet, criticising the government for “ignoring farmers’ plight and favouring dance bar owners instead”. As he began the speech, enumerating the several development measures taken by the BJP-led state government, the opposition members sought to disrupt him, saying “talk about farmers”. “We want loan waiver for farmers,” the opposition legislators shouted. “Down with the government which has ignored farmers,” they said. “We want a legislation banning dance bars,” they added. Legislative council chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar, assembly speaker Haribhau Bagade, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, leaders of opposition in the legislative council and assembly, Dhananjay Munde and Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil respectively, were present in the house. PTI