'We were happy to see water in drought-hit Latur, so took selfies'

Mumbai: Maharashtra state minister Pankaja Munde, who is under fire after she took a series of selfies during her to visit to drought-hit Latur district on Sunday, issued a clarification on the issue.

The State Rural Development Minister said that ''It was not an excitement but satisfaction to see water in a trench in dry place," and thus clicked some photos.

Making an emotional appeal to the people, Pankaja posted a message on Facebook, in an attempt to defend her stand on the selfie issue.

"During my Latur tour, I chaired many review meetings for drought relief measures being undertaken. We had tried to dig deep in search of water but without any success. On Sunday, during my visit to Sai Bandhara on Manjara river, I was really to see water in a trench. So I clicked some photos of that trench with water and recorded work being carried out (normally I don’t do this). I was really happy to see water in such dry plans like oasis in desert. This is not a photo of any event or function. But some people twisted it (sic). I was aghast to read when few mentioned that my make up got ruined. I was just speechless !! Just could not understand the who is getting benefited by making up and twisting news to kill a personality?? Will my poor farmers already under the burden due to severe drought will get benefited?? I had clicked that photo in 45 C simmering heat.. There was not excitement but just satisfaction to see some ray of hope.. Just to put truth in front of everyone hence this clarification. Daily spicy food is unbearable for both who prepares it and who eats it !!

Munde is the guardian minister of Latur and visited the drought-affected district yesterday to review desilting work being carried out by the government.

At Sia village where desilting work is being carried out in completely dry Manjara river, Munde clicked a selfie with the dry riverbed as the backdrop.

Munde's selfies went viral on the social media with netizens accusing her of being insensitive to the plight of poor farmers of the region.

However, she remains unfazed by the criticism and appeared keen to put out the correct picture on her tour of the drought hit region.

Water conservation is happening massively ...isn't it "sawedana " for "duskhal" pic.twitter.com/HbDMkxtxaA — PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) April 17, 2016