Delay in setting up Barsu refinery in Konkan helped Pakistan: Fadnavis

While stating that government oil companies will set up oil refinery at Barsu in Ratnagiri district, Fadnavis claimed that a lobby which has been opposing developmental projects in India is playing a role in Barsu and some people involved in anti-Barsu protests visited Bengaluru often and record shows that they received funds from accounts in Bengaluru. He further claimed that some activists are in touch with the ex-cadre of Greenpeace, a campaigning organisation.

“It is wrong to oppose the projects that will boost the state’s economy in the next 20 years. It (the Barsu project) is beneficial for Maharashtra. Since we delayed, the company which was to come along with (Indian) government companies instead invested in Pakistan. Pakistan is benefitting due to this. Still, our government companies will build the refinery,” he said.

He added that the government understands that all protesters in the Barsu were not connected to these people but some are opposing the projects as they have some doubts and the government will clear their doubts through dialogue.

Fadnavis, who is also the home minister, further said attempts were being made to destabilise the state over the Aurangzeb issue that led to clashes in some areas in recent months. “Suddenly, Aurangzeb’s procession, posters, and (social media) statuses in different districts (happened) at the same time. This is no coincidence, but an experiment. Aurangzeb was never the hero of Indian Muslims,” Fadnavis said.  He said that Aurangzeb was Turkish-Mongol and there are only a few lakh people in India who belong to this race. Hence he could not be a hero of anyone here.

On the criticism by the Opposition over Mumbai’s Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha setting up an office at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, Fadnavis said the office is for those who come with their grievances.

“The day the BMC gets its general body of corporators after elections, the guardian minister’s office will cease to exist,” he added. On allegations that the ruling Shinde-BJP government was delaying local body elections including in BMC, Fadnavis claimed that these elections were delayed due to the pending cases in SC.

“We are ready for the elections. However, due to pending issues in SC, the State Election Commission has put on hold the process of local bodies elections,” said Fadnavis. He added that considering the increase in cyber-crime and financial frauds, the home department has decided to increase the number of police stations in the area of banks, financial institutions.

He added that when it comes to crackdown on narcotics, high quality scanners have been installed at the ports. “Police keep an eye on couriers as nowadays this service was used to supply the drug. Police were monitoring the dark net and social media to curb the drug trafficking. CCTVs were installed to monitor some medicines-cough syrups sold in medical stores,” the home minister added.

While in the past three years, the state lost its first rank in foreign investment to Karnataka and Gujarat during the time of MVA government, it has now regained the top position with the state having approved 1,27,000 crores investment, Fadnavis said.