Sena will ensure aid reaches right people: Uddhav on hailstorm affected farmers

Mumbai: Days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced compensation for hailstorm-affected farmers, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said his party would ensure that the funds reached the right people.

“We will ensure that the money announced for farmers reaches right people. I will not let people do anything they wish to do just because we are in the government. We will continue doing what is best for our farmers,” he said.

Sena is alliance partner in the BJP-led state government.

Thackeray was speaking at a press conference to announce an exhibition of about 70 photographs taken by him, which would be open at Jehangir Art gallery here from 7 to 12 January.

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain will inaugurate it tomorrow. Proceeds of the exhibition will go to the distressed farmers in the `suicide belt’ of Maharashtra, the Sena chief said.

“If this small gesture saves the lives of even one or two farmers, I will consider myself fortunate,” he said.

“This exhibition will feature photographs of ancient temples in Cambodia. They were breathtaking. It reminds me of our culture that is spread around the world. I also got a chance to shoot polar bears in sub-zero temperatures in Canada. It was very difficult shooting these beautiful animals as whenever I removed my gloves to shoot them, my hands froze. It took a lot of time for my hands to get normal again,” Thackeray said.

“The other highlight will be infra-red photography. What makes it special is that while shooting, we do not let light pass through camera lens. Instead, we allow infra-red rays to pass through. These pictures have turned out beautiful,” Thackeray said.

PTI