The politics surrounding the drought situation is heating up in the
state and MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday became the latest
politician to announce his tour to the drought-stricken districts.
While addressing his party workers in Mumbai, the MNS leader
criticised the government as well as the opposition parties for not
doing anything to help the people in the drought-affected villages. He
announced that he will start his visit to the drought-stricken areas
in the next six to seven days, and instructed his party workers to
start the relief work immediately.
“Today, several regions in the state are affected by drought. What the
government and other political parties are doing is something that
they only know. It is also the MNS’ responsibility to provide relief
to people. Start the relief work tomorrow itself in all the villages
facing water shortage, irrespective of whether they fall in your
constituency or not,” Mr Thackeray told his party workers.
Moreover, he also warned his party MLAs against going on state
sponsored study tours to foreign countries, and said that the
ministers going on such tours should also be banned from entering in
their districts. “The government has planned a study tour for all
MLAs. All ministers will also start their foreign tours in this month,
even as the people are suffering from drought. They should be banned
from entering their districts. None of our MLAs will go on this tour,”
he said.
Mr Thackeray added that such tours are only organised to keep the
Opposition happy so that they do not pose uncomfortable questions to
the government.
Meanwhile, speaking about the recent incident of tiger deaths in the
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Mr Thackeray asked his party workers to
beat up animal poachers in public. He said, “I want to see how you
implement this. Coordinate with animal rights NGOs and bash these
poachers on the streets.”