Dhule farmer Dharma Patil's death leads to Shiv Sena-BJP war of words

MUMBAI: The death of Dharma Patil, a farmer from Dhule , led to an exchange of words between Shiv Sena, junior ally in the Maharashtra government, and the BJP at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Patil had consumed poison in Mantralaya last week over inadequate compensation for his five acres land and died in JJ hospital on Sunday night.
At the start of the meeting, Shiv Sena leader and transport minister Diwakar Raote told chief minister Devendra Fadnavis that the public had elected their government after getting tired of the Congress-NCP rule and BJP should stop blaming the death of the farmer on the former rule.
Raote demanded that CM should look into the matter. "The image of the government is getting tarnished because of this incident and questions are being raised whether the present government was sleeping for the last three years. People are also asking the reason why Dharma Patil did not get justice even in our government," said Raote.
Tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal (BJP) has been maintaining, the evaluation of the Patil's land in Dhule, which is being acquired for a solar power project, was done in 2009 when NCP leader Ajit Pawar was the energy minister.
Fadnavis announced an inquiry under chief secretary Sumit Mullick and the report will be submitted to the cabinet in the next one week. Fadnavis assured his cabinet colleagues that no officer would be spared if found guilty for not compensating Patil due for his land.
Meanwhile, finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar informed media persons that Fadnavis has ordered inquiry into Patil's death and all allegations that his son Narendra had made. Mungantiwar said that the state government has taken this issue seriously and no one would be spared. Mungantiwar said that the opposition has politicized the issue.
Mungantiwar also urged alliance partner Shiv Sena to present its views within the cabinet instead of making it public. He said that entire cabinet is serious on this death and government is in favour of providing every possible help and if any government official is not doing his job, he would be dealt with stringently.
Patil had received only Rs 4 lakh for their five acres of land while his neighbour got Rs 1.86 crore for four acres of land. Patil's son Narendra had staged a protest at JJ hospital demanding that state government give in writing that his land would be re-evaluated. Following his demand, energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has given in writing that his land would be re-evaluated in the next 30 days and meanwhile an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh had already been announced for the family.