After Drought Selfie Controversy, Minister Pankaja Munde's Disclaimer

Mumbai: Under fire from not just the opposition but also ally Shiv Sena, the BJP's Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde has explained that she posted selfies on her tour of parched Latur on the weekend in appreciation of the work done there by the local administration for drought relief.  

The Congress has accused Ms Munde, the state's minister for water conservation, of gross insensitivity. "BJP as a whole is a selfie and optics party, this is like making a mockery of the drought," said Congress. The party has accused the Devendra Fadnavis government of failing the state's farmers.

Manisha Kayande of the Shiv Sena, which rules Maharashtra in partnership with the BJP, said, "In such a serious situation the ministers are clicking selfies. I think they should watch their actions before doing such things. Pankaja Munde should have avoided this."

Ms Munde, 36, has tweeted,
 

This pics are work done by govt n ppl participation it's my dept n I was working from day 1sence of satisfaction if it rains we are ready

— PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) April 17, 2016

 

Completely focused on #drought relief measures, prepn for water consvn etc. @IndianExpress @ndtv @BJP_ITCELL_Maha pic.twitter.com/kwR0r9wAKY

— PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) April 18, 2016

While reviewing efforts on water conservation in Latur, one of the districts worst-affected by the drought that has ravaged Maharashra, Ms Munde had posted a series of selfies on Twitter.
 

2 selfie with bandhara pic.twitter.com/OKFeyT3OPS

— PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) April 16, 2016

Selfie with trench of said barrage Manjara .. one relief to latur .. pic.twitter.com/r49aEVxSSk

— PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) April 17, 2016

Water conservation is happening massively ...isn't it "sawedana " for "duskhal" pic.twitter.com/HbDMkxtxaA

— PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) April 17, 2016

She was trolled on the social media site with people accusing her of finding a photo opportunity in the middle of a massive disaster.

In last week, Mah Govt has been in news for
- Latur helipad
- Train held up by MLA
- #PankajaMunde selfie
Such a caring govt! Jai ho!

— Raja (@Raja_Sw) April 18, 2016

Ministers will now take selfies at disaster affected areas to prove they went there? A new low in politics. https://t.co/sqOmXZ7R6Z

— Akshay Gautam (@aks_hai) April 18, 2016

Ms Munde is also the guardian minister for Beed and Latur, where the state government has had to send lakhs of litres of water by train.

A second-term lawmaker and first time minister, Ms Munde is the daughter of top BJP leader Gopinath Munde who died in a road accident in Delhi in June 2014, days after he took oath as a cabinet minister at the Centre.