Congress-NCP pushed Maharashtra into "bad" condition: Smriti Irani

JALGAON: Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani today accused the erstwhile Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra of being responsible for farmers' suicides, saying the state was pushed into a "bad" condition because of their policies.

Addressing a BJP rally here in this north Maharashtra town in run-up to October 15 Assembly elections, the actress- turned-politician appealed to people to "get rid" of Congress and NCP, who are fighting the polls separately.

"The 'aghadi sarkar' (Democratic Front government) is responsible for the bad condition of the state and for suicides committed by farmers. It is also responsible for unemployment of youths and various other problems," Irani said.

She said that the poor and other weaker sections in the state have been facing myriad problems on all fronts over last 15 years.

Irani, however, did not criticise her party's estranged ally, Shiv Sena during her entire address.

Maharashtra is witnessing multi-cornered fights due to recent collapse of major alliances--Congress-NCP and Shiv Sena-BJP--owing to disagreement on sharing of seats.

Listing out the "achievements" of Narendra Modi government within 100 days of coming to power, Irani said, " Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a Jan Dhan Yojana to ensure that everybody has access to banking.

"Lakhs of people have opened accounts under this ambitious programme. The poor and other weaker sections will now get all the financial benefits accrued directly in their bank accounts," she added.