Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has announced a Rs. 400 crore Central assistance to Maharashtra which suffered extensive damage to crops on account of unprecedented and unseasonal rains. Dr Singh announced the relief after an all party delegation led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan called on him and sought a special relief package for farmers today. The Prime Minister assured the delegation that the interests of farmers were uppermost and that all necessary steps would be taken by the Centre to assist the state government in helping the farmers. The delegation which comprised of MPs from the state, Chavan's ministerial colleagues, BJP MP Gopinath Munde and Shiv Sena MP Anant Geete. Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was also present.