Dry fruits at Maharashtra drought meet trigger row, MP says ‘no big deal’ - The Indian Express

A political controversy erupted in Maharashtra on Saturday after dry fruits were served at a government meeting to review the drought situation in Nanded, prompting criticism from the Opposition and an unusual protest by a farmer, who later offered Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne cashews and almonds.

The row broke out after a video of a meeting at the Nanded District Collectorate went viral. It showed ministers, MPs and MLAs being served refreshments, including cashews and almonds, while discussing the drought situation.

Among those present at the meeting were District Guardian Minister Atul Save, Minister Meghana Bordikar, Nanded Congress MP Ravindra Chavan, Shiv Sena MP from Parbhani Sanjay Jadhav, Rajya Sabha MP Ramrao Wadkute, Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Jalna MP Kalyan Kale, and MLAs, including Pratap Patil Chikhalikar and others from three districts. BJP MP Ashok Chavan attended the meeting virtually.

The video triggered criticism from farmers and Opposition leaders, who accused the government of being insensitive. Officials later removed the plates from the meeting venue.

After the meeting, Jadhav, when asked about the cashews and almonds served at the meeting, told reporters, “Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill over 50 to 100 rupees worth of almonds. Does no one eat just because there is a drought? What is the big deal if someone ate cashews and almonds?”

When journalists asked about the Opposition’s criticism, Jadhav said, “At the end of the day, I am human too. You are asking foolish, childish questions. Let them criticise me; I am ready to accept that criticism, so don’t you worry about it. Cashews and almonds were placed in front of every MP and MLA, so what is the big deal if someone ate them?”

After the review, Bharne went to Hingoli, where a farmer approached him with cashews and almonds placed on a tree leaf. “Sir, farmers are dying due to the drought and you are eating cashews and almonds in your meetings — here, you eat this yourself,” the farmer said. Bharne declined the offering and assured the farmers that the government was taking steps to tackle the drought situation and would provide the necessary assistance.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said serving dry fruits could have been avoided.

“Generally, it is standard practice for the administration to place dry fruits in meetings. Such things should be avoided. However, it is not correct to claim that someone is doing this intentionally because there is a drought. The administration must keep certain things in mind and act with sensitivity,” Fadnavis said in Nagpur on Saturday.

State Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat of the Shiv Sena criticised the Nanded administration.

“Do the officials have any sense? Officials bear certain responsibilities; they ought to understand what topic is being discussed and how they should act. Officials commit such missteps, and we get blamed,” he said.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, whose party is in alliance with the Congress, criticised the administration, saying it was not taking the drought situation seriously even as several parts of the state faced drought.

“The government is showing no seriousness. The state government needs to immediately convene a special session, conduct extensive discussions on the drought, and provide relief to the farmers,” he said.

He also questioned whether the prescribed procedures had been followed for assessing and reporting drought conditions. Pawar alleged that no such data was prepared at the government level during the monsoon months.

“If this information is true, it is extremely unfortunate, and it raises the question: Do ministers and officials just sit in meetings eating cashews and almonds?” he asked.

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More