Congress seeks Prime Minister's intervention to help drought-hit farmers

Mumbai: Congress, on Saturday, demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should intervene to provide relief to drought-hit farmers in Maharashtra.

"PM should intervene since the state government does not seem to be taking enough efforts. There are hollow announcements and nothing concrete on the ground," Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ashok Chavan said.

Chavan discussed the state's drought situation with senior party leaders at Gandhi Bhavan, the state party office, at Mumbai. The former Chief Minister also said Modi has recently announced a financial package for Bihar.

"Modi should intervene to help Maharashtra farmers as well who are reeling under drought for last couple of years," he said. "Even a large city like Latur does not have drinking water. The Chief Minister only announces that water would be brought by railway. However, nothing is happening on that front," he added.

The Maharashtra Congress chief also said the party is in the process of formulating an action plan to assist the drought hit people. "We don't want to politicise miseries of farmers. But, the party would constructively contribute for their welfare," he added.

According to him, inputs of district units would be taken to ascertain the ground situation so that assistance in terms of water, cattle and fodder camps, food for farm labourers can be arranged.