Drought issue takes centre stage as Maharashtra budget session begins

MUMBAI: The issue of severe drought in various parts of Maharashtra assumed centre stage as budget session of state Legislature began here today, with opposition members shouting slogans, alleging government's inaction in tackling the crisis.

As soon as Governor C Vidyasagar Rao reached the Vidhan Bhawan to deliver his address to the state Assembly and Council members, the opposition Congress and NCP members rose to their feet, criticising the government for "ignoring farmers' plight and favouring dance bar owners instead".

As he began the speech, enumerating the several development measures taken by the BJP-led state government, the opposition members sought to disrupt him, saying "talk about farmers".

"We want loan waiver for farmers," the opposition legislators shouted. "Down with the government which has ignored farmers," they said.

"We want a legislation banning dance bars," the opposition members further said. Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar, Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Leaders of Opposition in the Legislative Council and Assembly, Dhananjay Munde and Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil respectively, were present in the House.