Some are wearing blindfolds, must explain to them what is true Hindutva: Uddhav

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said that some people are wearing blindfolds and it is essential to explain to them what true Hindutva and patriotism mean reported the PTIUddhav was speaking to a gathering of party workers outside his residence Matoshri in Bandra area of MumbaiUddhav Thackeray took a dig at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who leads the rival Shiv Sena factionHe criticised a banner at Bandra Kurla Complex BKC showing Eknath Shinde welcoming British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accusing ministers of being obsessed with publicityldquoDid you Shinde manage to get even closer to him Starmer Theyrsquove gone mad over selfpublicityrdquo he said according to the PTIIn a veiled attack on the BJP Uddhav Thackeray said It is necessary to explain true patriotism and Hindutva Some people are wearing blindfoldsHe also raised the plight of floodhit farmers saying they are in despair and that the government has offered a package full of ldquodeceitrdquo He was referring to the recent financial aid announced for farmers who lost crops due to heavy rains and floodingUddhav Thackeray also announced that he will take part in a protest in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Saturday opposing what he called an inadequate compensation package for the farmers as per the PTIMeanwhile Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal on Thursday criticised the state governmentrsquos relief package for farmers affected by recent heavy rainfall and flooding describing it as a ldquocruel jokerdquo and demanding urgent intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi reported the PTIUnseasonal and excessive rainfall in September devastated crops across the state particularly in Marathwada and neighbouring regions affecting nearly 6869 lakh hectares of agricultural landOn Tuesday the Maharashtra government announced a Rs 31628 crore compensation package It includes relief for crop loss life and property damage soil erosion hospitalisation exgratia payments and destruction of homes shops and cattle shedsHowever Sapkal addressing the media after a North Maharashtra Congress meeting said ldquoSince May farmers have been suffering due to erratic rains What the state government has offered is a deceptive eyewash not genuine supportrdquoHe criticised the Prime Minister for failing to announce any central aid during his recent Mumbai visit ldquoHersquos extended special packages to Bihar Gujarat and Punjab yet Maharashtra has been neglected in its time of crisisrdquo Sapkal said according to the PTIHe further alleged that the statersquos compensation figures include insurance settlements and lightningrelated fatalities calling it a ldquobogus accounting exerciserdquo designed to inflate the relief figure without offering new assistanceThe Congress has demanded Rs 50000 per hectare for crop damage Rs 5 lakh per hectare for soil erosion and a complete farm loan waiverwith PTI inputs