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Bal Thackeray again assures free power supply to farmers

The Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has re-asserted that he would ensure free electricity supply for the state's farmers. He said so at a farmers' rally on Sunday in Bombay as part of the Agro Advantage Maharashtra. However, Thackeray failed to assure a fixed time-frame.

Chief Minister Manohar Joshi likened the ryots to kings. "Farmers must become the kings of Maharashtra. The state government has chalked out a pro-former, pro-agriculture policies and implemented them," he said.

Joshi cautioned the farmers not to fall prey to suit-donning, glib-talking ''modern'' farmers who are ''spreading malice against the alliance government''.

The Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray said that decisions regarding projects related to stengthening of ports in the state will be finalised only after ensuring that they will not hurt fisherfolk.

He said, "Let's put an end to the controversy over the Wadhavan port. I've not come here to advocate the boons that the port will confer. But there are some people spreading misinformation that bribes have been paid to the top leaders of the Shiv Sena. People who want to buy the Shiv Sena have not yet been born. We are not for sale."

Compiled from the Marathi media by Prasanna D Zore

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