'If farmers can pay mobile bills, why not power bills?'

November 24, 2014 23:06

In controversial remarks, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse today said if farmers have money to pay their mobile phone bills, why are they reluctant to clear their electricity dues.

"They (farmers) pay their mobile bills month after month because they do not want their phone connection to get disconnected. They know if their phone gets disconnected, they will not be able to speak to anyone...right?"

"If they have money to pay their mobile bills, then why they do not have money to pay their electricity bills? They should make it a habit to pay bills and loans," he said at a press conference in Akola in Vidarbha, a region which has earned infamy for farmer suicides.

Main opposition Shiv Sena was quick to slam Khadse for his "insensitive" remarks.

Speaking to reporters at Nanded in Marathwada, a region reeling under water scarcity, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said BJP ministers are emulating their counterparts in the erstwhile Congress-NCP government.

If they make such "insensitive" remarks, there will be no difference between the present BJP government and the previous Congress-NCP administration, he said.

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