Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday took strong objection to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s proposal for setting up a high-level committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for Mumbai’s development, saying it is “impractical” and “undesirable”.
In a seven-page letter to Modi, Pawar urged him not to accept the responsibility for the city’s development and to place it squarely where it belongs—on the shoulders of the chief minister, the state government and the people of Maharashtra.
“There are certain issues between Maharashtra and Gujarat on which both the states differ in opinions and interests. In such situation, any proposal suggested by the chief minister will create misunderstanding between the people of the two states…the issue also concerns the federal nature of Republic of India,” Pawar said.
The NCP chief said a few days ago, Fadnavis had proposed setting up a PM-headed committee for the development of Mumbai and during the ongoing winter session of the state legislature announced that the panel has been set up. “The lack of transparency in one of the CM’s first major administrative decisions raises a number of questions. The decision should have been discussed in the cabinet; the view of the partner in his government is nowhere on record, neither in favour nor in opposition,” he added.
Pawar pointed out that according to protocol, the announcement for the committee should have been made after seeking approval from the PMO so that there was no scope for embarrassment in future. “I don’t think that there was consultation at any level,” he said.
Pawar alleged that though the CM has asked the people not to play politics with development of Mumbai, prima facie, it appears that he himself is doing it. “In the run-up to the local body elections two years away, this appears to be an attempt to wrest control over the welfare of the city from the local body and the local government to enable it to be managed by his party from New Delhi. I will not suggest that because I know Devendra is a very proud Maharashtrian,” Pawar observed. “To suggest that there are no thinkers or planners or visionaries in Maharashtra to help the government solve its development issues, including the problem of its capital city, is to insult all of Maharashtra. I am sure, that was not the intent of the CM.”
FADNAVIS REACTS:
Reacting sharply to Sharad Pawar’s letter to the Prime Minister, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the NCP chief has written the letter based on hearsay. “I have read Pawar’s letter. I am replying to the PM and will send a copy of my letter to Pawar too. In my opinion, Pawar has written the letter without verifying facts,” Fadnavis told TOI.
Fadnavis also pointed out that Pawar, in his letter, had mentioned that a PM-headed committee for the development of Mumbai has been set up, but no such panel is in existence. “To support my contention, I will send all the proceedings during the winter session of the state legislature to the PM as well as Pawar.”
