Maha: Shinde appeals for simple celebrations, urges diversion of festival funds to drought-hit farmers

Mumbai, Oct 1 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today appealed to people, Shiv Sena functionaries and social organisations to celebrate the upcoming Navratri and other religious and cultural festivals in a simple manner and divert the saved money towards helping drought-affected farmers. In a post on X, Shinde said the state's farmers were facing a difficult situation as inadequate rainfall had damaged crops in several areas. "The rain has betrayed us this year and nature has unleashed its fury, causing the standing crops to wither and droop at several places." Shinde further said thousands of farmers were distressed…