Shiv Sena slams Advocate General over his comments on farmer suicides

MUMBAI: Coming down heavily on Maharashtra Advocate General Shreehari Aney, Shiv Sena today said that by submitting that the state machinery has been "inept" in stopping farmers' suicides, he has made Maharashtra government seem "unworthy" in front of the Bombay High Court.

The Sena also noted that had an Advocate General of any other state made such a statement, the person would have been immediately suspended by the government.

"Aney had in the Bombay High Court said that the state machinery has been inept in handling farmers' suicide cases. He could have informed the court of the number of suicides that had taken place but he went a step further by making the government seem unworthy. If there is an Advocate General like him, who needs enemies?" the Sena said in an edit in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The Sena further said that Aney has made the government's stance over Vidarbha and Marathwada seem "hypocritical".

"Aney had spoken about a separate statehood for Vidarbha and then, his comments were construed to be personal in nature. But now these comments have been made in front of a court, thus it means he has kept forward the government's stand," it said.

"If an Advocate General of some other state had made such comments against the government, he would have been dismissed immediately. But people of Vidarbha want to know why is he still representing the government?" it asked.

The Sena said that showing the state government machinery in a poor light in a way means that politicians from the region are weak and inept in handling the situation.

"Never in the history of the country has an Advocate General shown his own government in poor light," it said.