Whoever Forms Govt In Maharashtra, We Will Get Farmers' Work Done: Nitin Gadkari

Irrespective of whose government is formed in Maharashtra, we will get the work done in the interest of farmers, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday. The Minister for Road Transport and Highways was speaking at the inauguration of Agrovision, an expo showcasing a wide range of agricultural products, here.

He said instead of taking so much interest in covering who is forming the next government in Maharashtra, the media should focus on farmers' issues.

"Whosoever forms the government, work will be carried out in a good manner. Irrespective of whose government comes to power in Maharashtra, we will get the work done in farmers' interest. Farmers are more important...who is part of the government is insignificant," the minister said.

Gadkari's comments come amid the hectic talks being held by the Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena for forming a government in Maharashtra, which was placed under President's rule on November 12. Speaking at the gathering, he said, "I felt sad over the cabinet's decision of importing onion. I asked why this situation has come about that we need to import onions. Earlier, they were being thrown away when prices fell to Rs 2 per kilogram. The reason this is happened is that we don't have storage facilities." He said the dream behind Agrovision, which started ten years ago, was to stop farmer suicides in Vidarbha.

"The most important factor to make farmers progressive and prosperous is irrigation facilities. We undertook several water conservation programmes in Vidarbha," he claimed. He said a bridge-cum-barrage has been approved for Bhandara while the one at Latur will ensure the district will not need to get water by trains, however severe a drought. "If we improve irrigation potential in the state, then farmers will not commit suicide. When I was Union water resources minister, I had released Rs 40,000 crore worth of funds on the request of (then chief minister) Devendra Fadnavis," he said.