CM Uddhav Thackeray hints at sops for farmers
| Date :16-Dec-2019 |
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeary elaborating on a point during the media interaction at Ramgiri bungalow on Sunday as his Cabinet colleagues (from left) Dr Nitin Raut, Jayant Patil, Balasaheb Thorat, Chhagan Bhujbal; and ex-CM Ashok Chavan look on.
Staff Reporter :
From calling shots to heading the Government, Uddhav sails smooth
Chief Minister says State Government needs more time to formulate strategies
On CAB, Thackeray says that Maharashtra will take a call only after court decision
Long accustomed to calling shots, for Uddhav Thackeray the inning as Chief Minister of Maharashtra is yet to set in, it seems. During the media interaction on Sunday at Ramgiri bungalow on the eve of winter session of State Legislature, Thackeray sounded politically correct but conveyed an impression that the Government was ‘still studying’ when journalists asked questions. “Barely 15 days have passed by since formation of Cabinet and the state of affairs are still under examination,” said Thackeray.
To a question about the status of debt burden of Maharashtra and the Government stance about the same, he replied, “We have just received the keys to State’s currency chest but are yet to open the same.” He, however, added that State Government would take a review and put out a paper on finances very soon. Whatever the state of finances, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government stands by its commitments made to the electorate. Displaying his sense of humour, Thackeray quipped, “We know how to keep our promises unlike others”, apparently taking a jibe at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Dressed in typical kurta-pyjama, Uddhav Thackeray oozed confidence on the eve of his first winter session of State Legislature, which the political analysts are dubbing as litmus test for MVA. Chief Minister also hinted at sops for farmers, more so when the State Government's inning starts from the second capital of Maharashtra.
“Gaining confidence of people is our priority and the Government is not there to answer Opposition queries”, he replied when asked about the charges levelled by the Opposition earlier in the day. Thackeray said that the Government was more concerned about de-stressing the farmers and steps to be taken in right earnest in that direction. As to Veer Savarkar issue, Chief Minister said that BJP appeared to have let loose the controversy in a bid to divert attention from more pressing issues before the nation. A typical pattern off late is seen in country, whenever the situation slips out of Government’s hand, some or the other controversy erupts thereby helping those in power evade their responsibility, he remarked.
The country is in turmoil, apart from North Eastern states the fire has now spread to Delhi and Central Government seems unable to handle the situation, Thackeray commented. Further, Thackeray said, the three parties Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP have come together with a common minimum programme, and Shiv Sena’s stance on Savarkar and Bharat Ratna to him has not changed. BJP has strayed from the ideology of Savarkar who had dreamt of united India from Sindhu river to Kanyakumari, he alleged. Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) is in sense a betrayal of Savarkar’s vision, Thackeray said. During the last five years what did the Central Government do to ensure protection of minorities in neighbouring countries, he asked. CAB is going to further make position of minorities in those countries more dangerous, Thackeray apprehended. “Since the Government did not offer any clarification on some of our queries on CAB, Shiv Sena abstained from voting in Rajya Sabha,” he told mediapersons, while responding to a query. As to Maharashtra’s stance on CAB, Chief Minister said that some organisations were going to the court.
“So, let the court first examine the Bill on Constitutional parameters and then only Maharashtra will take its decision,” he stressed. On the issue of Vidarbha statehood and problems in the region, Chief Minister said the Government had studied the issues in detail. “If there is no disruption in the House, our Government is ready to spell out its development policies for the region,” he added. Barring the Metro Car Shed project in Mumbai, no other ongoing development project in the State is stalled but some people have habit of raising unnecessary hue and cry, he emphasised.
He quickly added, “Let them do their work. We have our own agenda of fulfilling commitments made to people of Maharashtra.” Thackeray was quick in picking up a point from a mediaperson’s query about no work done by Dr Tatyasaheb Lahane’s committee set up by previous Government, saying this exposed the hollowness of claims of previous dispensation in the State. Jayant Patil, Cabinet Minister and Group Leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), too was at his wittiest best saying it was the best time for the Opposition to do something good for themselves. The Government would have been happy partnering with the Opposition in resolving pressing issues before Maharashtra, but they squandered the opportunity, he said. Other Cabinet Ministers including Eknath Shinde, Subhash Desai, Dr Nitin Raut, Balasaheb Thorat, and Chhagan Bhujbal along with Ashok Chavan, former Chief Minister, also were present during the media interaction.