Uddhav Says Farmers Got ‘Turbuj’ From Fadnavis

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has once again resorted to body shaming Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Describing the farm package announced by the Fadnavis government as the “biggest joke”, the former chief minister said that farmers were given “tarbuj” (watermelon). It was a clear reference to Mr. Fadnavis’s body shape. During his visit to the rain-hit Marathwada region on Saturday, Mr Thackeray criticized the “inadequate assistance” offered to flood-affected farmers and demanded complete loan waiver and Rs one lakh rupees as immediate relief to every affected farmer before Diwali.

Earlier this week, the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government announced a Rs 31,628 crore relief package for over 60 lakh farmers affected by heavy rains and floods, destroying 68.7 lakh hectares of kharif crops across the state. While Mr. Fadnavis claimed that this was the largest relief package given to farmers in the state’s history, his deputy Eknath Shinde also supported him, stating that the relief package was larger than those given in Punjab, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. However, the opposition alleged that the government was misleading farmers by making false claims. A complete cancellation of the loan was requested.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party organized a ‘Hambarada Morcha’ (wail march) at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. All senior leaders, MPs and party legislators, including Sanjay Raut and Aditya Thackeray, attended the morcha.

Addressing the farmers, the Sena (UBT) chief also asked whether the package announced by the government was acceptable and whether they should not buy a package of Rs 50,000 per hectare. “This is not the biggest package in history, but it is the biggest lie of the Devendra Fadnavis government,” the former chief minister said.

Criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not speaking about the farmers’ situation during his two-day trip to Maharashtra, Mr. Thackeray asked if he was aware of the situations in the state.

Scolding Mr. Fadnavis, he said: “Farmers say the generous king gave them tarbuj.” This was the term he used several times for the Maharashtra CM in the past too.

Referring to Mr. Fadnavis’s announcement that the government will pay Rs three lakh to farmers whose land has been eroded under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said the government should deposit Rs one lakh in every farmer’s bank account before Diwali. He also announced that he will organize a statewide tour after Dilwali to meet farmers.

Responding to Mr Thackeray’s criticism, Mr Fadnavis advised him to look in the mirror. “If he does this, he will realize that he has no right to hold such rallies. He is just trying to save his political career by doing politics on the plight of farmers,” the Maharashtra CM said.