Amidst ravaging floods in Maharashtra, opposition leaders and some news outlets such as ABP MajhMarathimarathi news channel under the ABP group have indulged in a smear campaign against the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government for altering a norm laid out by the previous Congress-NCP government that allowed only people from those areas that have been under water for more than 7 days to be eligible for financial and food aid.
Realising the acute sensitivity of the issue, the BJP government in Maharashtra has issued a Government Resolution (GR) on August 8 had altered the previous government’s laid norm for being eligible for financial aid by reducing the number of days from 7 to 2. Now, those affected by floods for 2 days will get governmental aid as against the Congress-NCP government’s condition of being submerged in water for 7 days to avail government’s assistance. The government has also increased the compensation provided to the flood-affected victims.
@muglikar_ Bhau this @abpmajhatv lying badly again – On the Contrary It was 7 Days earlier But This Maharashtra Govt under @Dev_Fadnavis ji has brought the compensation reimbursement in just 2 days
एबीपीमाझा नाही “गांजामाझा” नाव ठेवलं पाहिजे ह्यांच
See Proof of Sins of Congress pic.twitter.com/RNWRHng4I3
— Chandrabhushan Joshi(CJ) (@MatruBhakt) August 9, 2019
However, several media outlets in connivance with opposition exploited this unfortunate tragedy to further their nefarious agenda. ABP Majha yesterday put out a misleading tweet alleging that the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government is making a mockery of flood-inundated victims by stipulating a condition of being flooded for two days to be eligible for procuring food aid and financial assistance.
दोन दिवस पाण्यात बुडाले असाल तरच मोफत अन्नधान्य, राज्य सरकारच्या जीआरमधून पूरग्रस्तांची थट्टा https://t.co/VLTRZWRKMR
— ABP माझा (@abpmajhatv) August 9, 2019
Before long, several detractors and opposition leaders lapped up the discourse and started lambasting the government for being ‘insensitive’ towards the victims of the devastating floods. Posts carrying incomplete and misleading information about the GR adopted by the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government’s decision were widely shared on Whatsapp, effectively showing the government in the bad light.
A decision which was taken to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims was being twisted out of proportion to engender public outrage against the government and harness it to further one’s diabolical narrative. The previous government’s condition of having been flooded for 7 days to receive compensation was amended by the BJP government by bringing the days down to 2. However, this nugget of information was deliberately erased from the narrative.
Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar, and one of the remaining NCP stalwarts too joined the bandwagon to exploit the situation and slam the government for its alleged insouciance of the flood victims.
लोकांचं या महापूरात सर्वस्व हरवलंय. अशा वेळी लोकांना सरकारी मदतीची आशा असताना त्यांना अशी हातचं राखून मदत करणं तुम्हाला शोभत नाही. पूरग्रस्तांना कोणताही निकष न लावता सरसकट मदत मिळालीच पाहिजे.
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) August 9, 2019
Another NCP leader Dr. Jitendra Awhad too posted a video fuelling the smear campaign against the Fadnavis government. He stated that the government is mocking the hardships of people for having them suffer for two days before providing them with food and financial aid.
सरकारचे डोकं फिरले pic.twitter.com/zlwjIQplk9
— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) August 9, 2019
Many Twitter users highlighted the inherent irony in the claims made by the NCP leaders and busted their propaganda. They pointed out that the BJP government has been considerate of the flood victims by bringing down the number of days for receiving compensation and also by increasing the compensation package.
Supriya Tai, this same was 7 days under your Govt. Which means a house has to be under water for 7 days and the compensation will flow.
Now that’s reduced to 2 days and compensation is increased.
Logically this is better than your Govt. ? https://t.co/Gvos3MNu8B
— Ashu (@muglikar_) August 9, 2019
However, with the view to tarnish the BJP government, such important facts were glossed over by the NCP politicians as well as by the media outlets outraging over the government’s decision.
