Crime To Be Silent, Says Nana Patekar On Maharashtra's Drought

Ahmednagar, Maharashtra: Actor Nana Patekar is an emotional man but it's rare to see him on the verge of tears. But as he spoke to NDTV about the severe drought in Maharashtra, the quiver in his voice was unmistakable.

"A massive migration is taking place to cities. And I want to tell everyone: if someone knocks at your car window, don't treat them like beggars. They are farmers," the actor said in Ahmednagar. "They are helpless. They need food, water and access to toilets. Let's take responsibility for one person each. It's not hard."

Mr Patekar said Maharashtra shouldn't have hosted the IPL matches but explained that the Bombay High Court's orders of shifting 13 IPL matches out of the state to save water wouldn't help much but it was a symbolic step. "Wouldn't they have to water the grounds even if there are no IPL matches? But it's an emotional issue. How can we celebrate when people are dying?"

Welcoming the forecast of an above normal monsoon, Mr Patekar said had measures been taken earlier, the water train being sent to the scorched city of Latur wouldn't have been necessary.

"Next two months are going to be terrible. Had we acted earlier, we would not have needed to send the water train. We have failed as a people and our politicians have also failed," he said.

"People are concerned. But they haven't seen it first-hand. They must come here (Marathwada). People must question the system. It is a crime to be silent. Are we blind that we cannot see people are dying? If they are not our people whose are they then?" he asked.

He also blasted a section of the media for focussing solely on sensational issues. "It is sad that Pratyusha (Banerjee) committed suicide. But does it have to be on Page 1 every day? Who is interested in how many times Indrani (Mukerjea) married? I detest reading newspapers."