Mumbai, September 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ appeal to citizens to cut back on personal celebrations and donate their savings towards drought relief, arguing that the burden of financing disaster assistance should not fall on financially strained households.
In an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction described the government’s approach as “picking pennies from empty pockets” and said the state should instead focus on plugging alleged financial leakages and corruption.
The editorial highlighted the agrarian distress in Maharashtra, claiming that four farmers in Parbhani, Yavatmal, Solapur and Hingoli districts died by suicide over two days amid drought-related debt and hardship. It said immediate and direct government assistance was needed to prevent the situation in drought-hit areas from worsening.
Taking aim at the state administration, the editorial said citizens facing inflation and economic pressures should not be asked to cut spending on weddings, naming ceremonies and other family functions to finance relief measures.
Instead, it called for action against alleged corruption, kickbacks and contractor commissions in government projects. It referred to alleged financial irregularities surrounding coastal land transactions in Konkan and fund flows related to the Shaktipeeth Expressway, claiming that public money was being diverted to benefit contractors.
The editorial also urged the ruling alliance to redirect funds allegedly being used for political defections and electioneering towards drought relief.
Among its suggestions, the party called for pending instalments allegedly meant for political allies to be transferred to drought-relief funds and for substantial contributions from major Mumbai builders, Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) developers and senior bureaucrats.
It also urged the state government to seek Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore from the unutilised balance of the PM CARES Fund for Maharashtra’s agricultural sector.
The editorial further criticised symbolic measures such as ministers giving up one month’s salary, arguing that such contributions would be insignificant compared with the resources controlled by those in power.
It called on the state government to take action against what it described as a nexus involving corrupt officials, contractors and political middlemen, saying this could generate greater resources for drought-hit communities.
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 criticises Fadnavis’ drought-relief appeal and urges Maharashtra govt to target alleged corruption and contractor commissions.){kind=link}