Maharashtra CM beating drums without sound: Shiv Sena

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday took a dig at Devendra Fadnavis, saying he was beating noiseless drums about development while the crop prices were falling.

File photo of Devendra Fadnavis (PTI)

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena, a constituent of BJP-led Maharashtra government, on Tuesday took a dig at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying he was beating noiseless drums about development while the crop prices were falling, causing distress to the farmers.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party said that instead of bragging about development during his tenure, Fadnavis should pay attention to the falling prices of sugar, tomatoes, onions and other farm produce which have adversely affected agriculturists.

"The chief minister talks about having details of development in his tenure, increase in agriculture production and efficient implementation of the loan waiver scheme in a pen drive," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamna'.

"The CM can continue beating this drum that has no noise but he should also pay attention to the falling prices of tomatoes, onions, sugar and other agricultural produce," the Marathi daily added.

Citing an example of the trauma the falling prices of farm items has had on farmers, the Sena said a cultivator in Ahmednagar district called a music band and destroyed his own crop by letting cattle graze it amid music.

The Sena publication said distressed farmers have no option but to destroy their own crops if they do not fetch even the basic cost of production.

"Leave aside the minimum support price, if farmers do not even get the cost of their agricultural produce, what option are they left with except throwing away their produce or letting cattle graze it?" it asked.

The Shiv Sena, despite being a part of the Fadnavis government, keeps targeting the chief minister on various issues.