Satara:
Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday took a dig at Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, saying his act of having lunch with farmers will not help solve their drought-related problems. Mr Pawar's NCP is a part of Congress-led ruling coalition in the state.
"The problems (like drought) won't be resolved by sitting under a tree and eating thecha (a type of green chilli-garlic chutney)," Mr Pawar, who is on a tour of Satara district, quipped. "We should speed up work in drought-affected areas," he added.
On Sunday, during a visit to Satara district to review drought relief work, Mr Chavan had lunch with farmers and labourers engaged in tasks like digging wells.
Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' has called the Congress leader's act a "farce" and a "poor imitation" of Rahul Gandhi's famous meals with the poor.
The NCP is said to be miffed with Mr Chavan since July last year, when he said giving key Home portfolio to NCP was a mistake.
"I think it was a mistake. We should have re-looked at it. I don't know of any other coalition government where the portfolios of Home, Finance and Planning are not with the Chief Minister," Mr Chavan had said.
"The problems (like drought) won't be resolved by sitting under a tree and eating thecha (a type of green chilli-garlic chutney)," Mr Pawar, who is on a tour of Satara district, quipped. "We should speed up work in drought-affected areas," he added.
On Sunday, during a visit to Satara district to review drought relief work, Mr Chavan had lunch with farmers and labourers engaged in tasks like digging wells.
Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' has called the Congress leader's act a "farce" and a "poor imitation" of Rahul Gandhi's famous meals with the poor.
The NCP is said to be miffed with Mr Chavan since July last year, when he said giving key Home portfolio to NCP was a mistake.
"I think it was a mistake. We should have re-looked at it. I don't know of any other coalition government where the portfolios of Home, Finance and Planning are not with the Chief Minister," Mr Chavan had said.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
