A video showing ministers, political representatives and senior officials eating cashews and almonds during a Maharashtra drought meeting in Nanded has triggered criticism over the administration’s sensitivity towards farmers facing crop losses and a severe agricultural crisis in the Marathwada region.
The meeting was held at the District Planning Building in Nanded to review the drought situation and damage to crops. The video circulated on social media after the meeting, leading to public criticism of the arrangements and the conduct displayed during an official review of the crisis.
According to Navbharat Times, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that serving dry fruits at official meetings was part of normal administrative arrangements and was not intended to make light of the drought. However, he said officials should show greater sensitivity to ground realities during a crisis and avoid such arrangements in circumstances of this kind.
Fadnavis made the remarks after arriving in Nagpur. His response sought to distinguish between routine administrative hospitality and the public perception created when such arrangements are visible during a meeting on drought and crop damage.
Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat, who did not attend the Nanded meeting because of previously scheduled programmes, said arrangements such as the cashews and almonds were made by officials. He said Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne was present and was handling the meeting with the attending officials.
Shirsat also said that although officials organise such provisions, elected representatives face public criticism over them. He added that he would issue strict instructions to the divisional commissioner in connection with the matter.
The controversy has also drawn a political response from Rohit Pawar, a legislator of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). Pawar alleged that the government was not treating the drought situation seriously and accused it of being preoccupied with eating dry fruits while the state faced a severe crisis.
Pawar called for the state government to convene a special session of the Maharashtra legislature to discuss the drought situation and provide concrete relief to affected farmers. The report did not specify whether such a session had been scheduled or set out details of any new relief package announced in response to the controversy.
The episode has placed administrative meeting practices under scrutiny at a time when government reviews are intended to assess crop damage and coordinate the state’s response. The immediate official responses have focused on the sensitivity of the arrangements, the responsibility of officials who organise meetings and the need for further instructions to the divisional administration.
