24 October,2023 09:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ambadas Danve at Dussehra rally
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve, at the Dussehra Melava being held in Shivaji Park, said that the Shinde government in Maharashtra is making death knock on the doors of the residents across the state. His comment came in the context of multiple incidents of deaths in government-run hospitals.
He said, "The government has begun the campaign 'Sarkar aplya dari' (government at your door) but the government is sending deaths to at the public's doorstep."
He added that the government has not purchased medicine, and the doctors, nurses and other staffer numbers across hospitals are inadequate. He further alleged that due to the negligence towards healthcare, nearly 6,700 infants have died in the state.
Speaking further on farmer issues, he said, "Onion farmers were promised compensation earlier this year in August and the farmers have still not received anything. Cotton farmers across Maharashtra are suffering too and their produce is lying in their homes since the government failed to fulfil their promises. The farmers are suffering under the current Maharashtra government."
Other party leaders and office-bearers also spoke at the event. Former Mumbai mayor, Kishori Pednekar, taking a swipe at the Shinde faction, in her address said, "They (Shinde faction) don't remember the teachings of Balasaheb Thackeray, they don't remember the promise made to him. You [Rebels] left us saying we were wrong in going with NCP, and you accepted NCP's Ajit Pawar with open arms."
Meanwhile, Sushma Andhare raised questions over 'pickpocketing' of party leaders by Devendra Fadnavis. She said, "People equate Fadnavis with Chanakya but it is inexplicable. Chanakya wanted to cultivate talent but Fadnavis and BJP only collected them." She also raised issues on drug seizures across the state and said that the drug abuse problem in the state should be addressed before it spirals further.
Subsequently, Nitin Bangude Patil raised questions over promises made by the government over Smart city, a memorial of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and the erection of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in the Arabian Sea.
"A study group was appointed as soon as the sale of beer in Maharashtra fell. 'Drink beer, cheer... Where are you taking our Maharashtra? Had the government diverted advertising money to medicines, hundreds of patients' lives would have been saved. If someone comes on our way and tries to fight with us, we do not return to our way unless we go on his way and wait for him. Shiv Sena has stood firmly behind the farmers even when they were not in power and stood even when they were in power," he said.
Additionally, Bhaskar Jadhav, in his speech, critiqued not just Chief Minister Eknath Shinde but also Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
