MUMBAI: While NCP chief Sharad Pawar spoke at the farmers’ rally at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Monday and state Congress president and revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat too was present on the dais, the Shiv Sena did not depute any senior leader for the gathering.
Although environment minister Aaditya Thackeray was expected to attend, the Sena sent youth wing leader Rahul Londhe.
Pawar criticised Maharashtra governor B S Koshyari at the rally, saying he had time to meet Kangana Ranaut but not farmers.
Governor’s Koshyari’s office, however, said the farmers’ delegation had been informed in advance that he would be addressing the Goa assembly on Monday since he holds additional charge of the state.
Asked about the conspicuous absence of senior Sena leaders, party MP Sanjay Raut said, “The participation of CM Uddhav Thackeray in a crowded place during the pandemic would have sent a wrong message.”
Pawar said, “I never thought Maharashtra would get such a governor. The farmers’ delegation wanted to meet him but he has left for Goa. He has time to meet Kangana but not farmers.”
The rally was held in solidarity with the farmer agitation near Delhi. A spokesperson from the governor’s office said, “It is wrong to say that the governor gave the delegation an appointment and did not keep it. Two members of the delegation, Dhananjay Shinde and Prakash Reddy, were informed that his principal secretary Santosh Kumar would receive them on Monday at 5pm.”
The former was informed by phone and WhatsApp on January 22 and the latter though a letter on January 24, he said. Prakash Reddy denied receiving any letter. Members of the morcha tore the memorandum they were planning to give the governor.
“We had been given an appointment and then it was cancelled. This is an insult to farmers,” said Ashok Dhawle from Kisan Sabha.
(With inputs from Sujit Mahamulkar)