File Photo: NCP chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Balasaheb Vikhe Patil today said NCP chief Sharad Pawar should introspect why despite he being in power in Maharashtra and Centre for long, Marathwada and other regions in the state continue to suffer from drought.
"Pawar needs to do some introspection. He was the Maharashtra Chief Minister three times and a Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha as well as Union Agriculture Minister. Despite that, why does he have to take part in a drought-hit farmers' rally?" Vikhe Patil said while speaking to reporters in Shirdi today.
Mr Pawar had led a farmers' rally in Osmanabad district of Marathwada recently.
"Presently, Marathwada and other regions are reeling under drought. During the long years in power, Pawar-led NCP held key portfolios - irrigation, electricity - in the state. However, these sectors failed to make any progress," the Congress leader said.
Addressing Mr Pawar as a 'Baramatikar' (hailing from Baramati), Mr Vikhe Patil alleged that Mr Pawar has deprived Beed, Osmanabad and Latur of getting water from Krishna valley.
"Pawar failed to divert the water of western rivers to the eastern region. He did not conduct a survey for the purpose. A Rs 12,000 crore-worth project on river Bhima was initiated by him in order to get adequate water supply for sugarcane in his hometown of Baramati," the Congress leader alleged.
"Pawar even gave the water meant for irrigation to the soft-drink companies and the entire Maharashtra knows it," he added.
While he was in power, the NCP president let Marathwada remain drought-affected, but is now showing interest in the region, the Congress leader alleged and added that Mr Pawar had even opposed the idea of artificial rain.