Gadchiroli remembers former guardian minister RR Patil

NAGPUR: Tribal district of Gadchiroli may have got swayed by the Modi wave in the last assembly election voting out NCP heavyweight Dharmaraobaba Atram but it still showed great solidarity when it came to pay tributes to former guardian and state home minister RR Patil who passed away on Monday.
Businesses remained suspended in most parts of the district on Tuesday as a mark of respect for Patil.Shops remained closed in both north and southern part of the vast district. Business establishments were also closed at Aheri, the home constituency for incumbent guardian minister and first time BJP MLA Raje Ambrishrao Maharaj (Atram). It was here that Ambrishrao had convincingly defeated his uncle and former NCP minister Dharmaraobaba who was considered close to Patil. Dharmaraobaba used to take famous tiger prawns of Sironcha for Patil since the days when Patil came to the district as home minister. Patil too extended much support to Dharmaraobaba who faced serious charges of allegedly hunting blackbucks in Pune.
Sources from Allapalli stated that barely any shop or business establishment was open on Tuesday observing a day of mourning in memory of erstwhile guardian minister. “Shops at Etapalli, Bhamragarh, Sironcha and other places in north like Kurkheda were closed,” said a Gadchiroli source.
Atul Gyanarapawar, former chairperson of agricultural committee of Zilla Parishad and a person close to Patil, stated there were many reasons for the district to remember the former guardian minister. “It was through Patil’s effort that the budgetary sanctions for the district under different heads had shot up manifold. He had envisioned economic and educational development for the place,” said Gyanarapawar. He also added that Patil had sent 50 bright students from the district to Pune for further study. “He (Patil) helped farmers with different beneficial schemes and facilities helping them to develop economically,” said the young NCP leader.