India, Oct. 18 -- Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar on Saturday criticised the Maharashtra government's Rs.5,000 assistance to farmers affected by drought-like conditions, calling it inadequate in view of the extent of crop losses. He warned of a major agitation before Diwali if the government failed to provide adequate financial relief to farmers.

Speaking at a press conference, Pawar demanded compensation of Rs.1 lakh per hectare for farmers and Rs.1.5 lakh per hectare for fruit orchards. He said the government needed to take into account the rising cost of cultivation and the losses suffered by farmers before deciding the relief amount.

Pawar said he had visited several talukas and interacted with farme...