Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Shiv Sena MP Defends Eating Nuts at Drought Meeting
A meeting was held to discuss dry weather and problems faced by farmers in Nanded district.
During the meeting, MP Sanjay Jadhav ate almonds and cashews.
A video of this spread widely online.
Some people said eating snacks looked insensitive while farmers were suffering.
Jadhav said the food had been placed in front of him and that the discussion was more important than the snacks.
He also asked the government to quickly help affected farmers.
Farmers and Congress workers protested when Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane arrived.
They asked for drought status, farm-loan waivers and money for damaged crops.
Sanjay Jadhav defended eating almonds and cashews during a meeting on drought-like conditions and farm distress.
Videos of the Parbhani MP eating from a plate went viral on social media.
Opposition leaders and netizens called the act insensitive, while Jadhav said attention should remain on the meeting's issues.
Jadhav demanded immediate and comprehensive government assistance for farmers affected by the lack of rain.
Congress workers and farmers protested near Dattatray Bharane's convoy, seeking drought status, loan waivers and crop compensation.
- Who
- Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jadhav, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane, Congress workers and farmers.
- What
- Jadhav defended eating almonds and cashews at a meeting about drought-like conditions and farm distress, while protesters demanded government assistance.
- When
- Saturday, September 19; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- A meeting was held in Nanded district; protests occurred near the government rest house and District Collectorate.
- Why
- The meeting addressed a lack of rain and farmer distress, while protesters sought drought recognition, loan waivers and crop compensation.
Critics
Defenders
Eating snacks during the meeting
Critics
Opposition leaders and several social-media users described Jadhav's eating of almonds and cashews as insensitive while farmers faced distress.
Defenders
Jadhav said the plate had been placed in front of him and argued that attention should focus on the meeting's substantive issues rather than the food.
Political responsibility for the farmer crisis
Critics
Congress workers and farmers protested against the government, demanding drought recognition, loan waivers and compensation for crop damage.
Defenders
Jadhav said the Opposition was politicizing farmers' problems and stated that he had strongly demanded immediate government assistance.
- Main figure
- Sanjay Jadhav, a Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP from Parbhani
- Controversy
- Jadhav was filmed eating almonds and cashews during the meeting
- Meeting subject
- Drought-like conditions and farm distress linked to inadequate monsoon rain
- Jadhav's position
- He said the focus should remain on the issues discussed and demanded comprehensive farmer assistance
- Minister present
- State Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane attended the meeting
- Protest demands
- Declaration of Marathwada as drought-affected, farm-loan waivers and compensation for crop damage