Mumbai: The BJP in Maharashtra today threatened to take to the streets if the state government failed to provide a relief package to hailstorm affected farmers within five days.
Talking to reporters, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde alleged that the government is not serious about helping hailstorm affected farmers.
"No helping hand has come from the state government.If the government does not announce a relief package in five days, then the BJP will take to the streets and stage demonstrations," Munde said.
He said that around 22 farmers committed suicide, since they were not given financial assistance by the government.
"The government should stop recovering loans from farmers. The financial assistance sought from the Centre is not sufficient," he said.
Crops in more then 12 lakh hectares suffered damages due to the recent untimely rain and hailstorm in Maharashtra.
A delegation of ministers led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar as well as Election Commission officials on Friday, and demanded Rs 5,000 crore as relief towards damages caused by rains and hailstorms.
Since the model code of conduct is in place for the Lok Sabha elections, Chavan had to seek the EC`s permission to allow the state to provide compensation which is over and above the amount fixed under the Centre`s Natural Calamity Relief Fund.
