Opposition leaders slammed the Maharashtra state government and said that the MVA needs to follow the order of the High Court which ordered the state government and civic authorities to ensure that food and basic necessities reach the tribal community across the state amid the COVID-19 lockdown.The government had stated that tribals who do not have ration cards will be issued the same after they apply before the tehsil offices, said Vivek Pandit, ex-MLA and president, Shramjeevi Sanghatana, a tribal welfare outfit which is organising the protest.
Devendra Fadnavis said, "If the MVA government does not take action, a meeting will be called with the governor. He had come to Varsave Naka to support the fast started by Vivek Pandit, the founder of the labor union. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a package of Rs 1.70 lakh crore so that everyone can get food grains during the Coronavirus crisis. The state government should have set up a mechanism to deliver foodgrains to those who do not have ration cards, which unfortunately did not happen."
Pandit was constantly discussing the issue of tribals with us. I personally wrote a letter to the Chief Minister requesting him. Fadnavis also spoke to the governor and said that if the government does not take action, he will hold a meeting with the governor. The governor also indicated his readiness to convene a meeting.