Shiv Sena dubs Opposition protests over farmers' woes as "stunt"

MUMBAI: Terming Congress and NCP's uproar in Maharashtra Legislature over farmers' suicides and drought a "stunt," the Shiv Sena today said it was ironic that the two parties remembered the plight of farmers after losing power.

Both the Houses of the Legislature, during the ongoing winter session in Nagpur, were yesterday adjourned without transacting much business following ruckus as former allies Congress and NCP jointly raised the issue of farmers' suicides and drought-like situation in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.

The state Legislative Council was today also adjourned twice as Opposition stalled the proceedings over the issue.

"They (the Congress and the NCP) have started seeing the tears of drought-hit farmers after being in power for 15 years. Farmers' suicides and their problems have now started making them feel uneasy, for which they have been agitating against the state government. This is nothing but a stunt," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

The Sena claimed that the opposition parties had to cut a sorry figure when their protests on streets of Nagpur were not attended by farmers.

"The protests of the opposition parties to show their concern for the plight of farmers was nothing but a stunt as farmers did not participate in it. Their claim to have support of 50,000 farmers turned out to be a farce. They are the ones who turned a deaf ear to the cries of farmers in their 15-year rule," the Sena said.