Minister faces calls to resign after making an insensitive joke about solving water shortages in drought-hit western regions
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) – An Indian minister went on a one-day hunger strike to atone for making a joke about urinating in dams to solve water shortages, comments that sparked outrage as millions face hunger in drought-hit western regions, the Times of India reported on Monday.
Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister and former irrigation minister of Maharashtra, is facing a backlash from opposition political parties and civil society groups who said his remarks were insensitive to the plight of those who are suffering in the drought. Many are calling for his resignation.
"I have realised that this is my grave mistake and the fast is an attempt at repentance," Pawar was quoting as saying. "From today, I have made a resolution to behave with responsibility and use proper language in public life."
Aid workers say almost one-fifth of Maharashtra, India’s third-largest state and one of the biggest producers of sugar, pulses, cotton and soybeans, has been declared drought-hit. Dams are empty, farmland is parched and livestock are emaciated.
Millions of people across some 12,000 villages in 15 districts have no drinking water, little fodder for their cattle and no income as they have no crops. Some are being forced to migrate to urban areas.
The government’s response – sending in drinking water in tanker trucks and setting up “cattle camps” where farmers can bring their livestock for fodder – has been inadequate, erratic and ineffective, aid workers say.
Pawar has apologised, but the report said opposition parties were not impressed by his one-day fast and called it a "stunt".
"Pawar's statement will not be forgotten so easily," Raj Thackeray, head of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena party, was quoted as saying.
"For another 50 years, the citizens of the state will not forget and forgive Pawar for his insensitive remark on farmers," he added.
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