Maharashtra govt ignoring distressed farmers, pursuing unnecessary projects: Jayant Patil

MUMBAI: (May 16) Senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil on Saturday slammed the Maharashtra government, accusing it of citing a lack of funds for distressed farmers while pushing ahead with "unnecessary" projects despite the state's mounting debt burden.

Patils remarks have come a day after several leaders, including those from the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), were detained by the police during a demonstration in Mumbai to press for demands of farmers from the Konkan region.

"There is a shortage of funds for several pending demands of farmers. But even though the state is under a mountain of debt, work on many unnecessary projects is being undertaken, despite there being no public demand for them. This is worrying," the former state minister said.