Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal on Sunday drew flak from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his BJP cabinet colleague Girish Mahajan for humorously describing Hingoli as a "poor" district, reported news agency PTI.

Zirwal, an NCP legislator from Nashik district and a close associate of party chief Pawar, made the remarks while addressing a gathering in the Hingoli district, of which he is the guardian minister. "I came here (Hingoli) for the first time as a cabinet minister and guardian minister. I realised that this is a marginal and poor district. Once I return to Mumbai, I will ask (seniors) why a poor person like me has been given the responsibility of a poor district," he said, reported PTI.