This Article is From Apr 25, 2016

'World Traveller' PM Modi Should Visit Drought-Hit Areas, Says Upset Shiv Sena

BJP ally Shiv Sena says PM Modi travels the world but not drought-hit Marathwada

Highlights

  • PM travels world but not drought-hit Marathwada, complains Sena
  • In Uttarakhand, Centre wrongly declared President's Rule, says Sena
  • Sena an ally of BJP but has been attacking it repeatedly
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is remiss in visiting other countries but not Marathwada, the epicenter of a cruel drought, said his ally, the Shiv Sena today.

"The PM is a world leader. He holds 20 rallies during polls, why doesn't he visit Marathwada and see what's happening?" asked Sena leader Sanjay Raut as parliament reconvenes today.

Marathwada's eight districts are dealing with drought for the third year in a row. Special trains packed with water have been commissioned to provide some relief to places like Latur, where villagers say they have not seen running water in taps for more than two years.

The Sena co-governs Maharashtra along with the PM's party, the BJP.

But the partnership hasn't inhibited the Sena from repeatedly calling attention to what it describes as the many missteps of the BJP at both the state and national level.

Included in its critique is the centre's handling of Uttarakhand, a political crisis that is now being reviewed by the Supreme Court.  Like opposition parties, the Sena says the centre wrongly removed an elected Congress government to declare President's Rule in the hillside state, which means it is governed by Delhi through the Governor.

"We don't support imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand. Small states should not be destabilized," said Mr Raut on his way into parliament, where the Congress is revving up to take on the centre over the issue.

Last week, the Uttarakhand High Court listed a torrent of wrongdoings by the government in placing the state under central rule. The Supreme Court is now hearing the centre's appeal against the High Court's verdict.


 
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