Govt, Cong lock horns over Adani and BMC’s favouritism
Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress on Wednesday locked horns after the latter’s MLA Varsha Gaikwad accused the state government of favouring ‘Adani, the friend of the country's Prime Minister’ in real estate projects in the city.
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Congress MLA Varsha Gaikwad accused the state government of favouring ‘Adani, the friend of the country's Prime Minister’ in real estate projects in the city. (File photo)Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress on Wednesday locked horns after the latter’s MLA Varsha Gaikwad accused the state government of favouring ‘Adani, the friend of the country’s Prime Minister’ in real estate projects in the city. She also mentioned the civic body losing its independence as administrators were allegedly facing pressure from the state government.
“In the last one and half years, we have seen how friends are getting benefits. Friends are being favoured, given tenders. Bandra reclamation land, Air India colony land, Mulund, Kanjurmarg, salt pan lands. Who was given all of this? The honourable friend of the country’s Prime Minister, Adani,” said Gaikwad. She was speaking in the legislative assembly on the resolution brought by ruling BJP on the issues concerning Mumbai.
Gaikwad’s reference to the Prime Minister led to uproar from treasury benches who demanded that it should be removed from the records to which pro-tem speaker Deepak Chavan assured that he will look into the records. BJP MLA Ameet Satam threatened to expose ‘social activities’ of Rahul Gandhi which led to more uproar. While Mulund’s BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha claimed that no land in Mulund had been given to anyone for real estate development.
Earlier, Gaikwad had alleged that the municipal commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is working under pressure and he is being threatened to do work as mandated by the state government. “My question is whether the BMC has retained its independence. The state government is controlling everything. Two guardian ministers are taking decisions. State government has taken over everything,” she said, alleging favouritism in granting funds. “MLAs of BJP and Shinde’s group are getting Rs up to 30-35 crore. We have examples where funds were approved in a single day,” she said.
Objecting to her claim, minister Shambhuraj Desai said that the money is given for development and not as a personal fund. “Then why is it that we don’t get funds for our constituencies? We also represent the electorate,” Gaikwad quipped back.
“Civic body’s money is being wasted. What is your municipal commissioner doing? Transfer him. He is working under threat. He was once called for inquiry (by ED). After that, he works as per orders. He is responsible to the people of Mumbai and elected representatives,” Gaikwad said. Her comments caused a fracas again and BJP MLAs Ashish Shelar claimed that she was talking without any evidence and asked it to be removed from the record.
“Claiming that the municipal commissioner is being pressured and threatened is wrong. He is an administrator. The state government is not interfering in its functioning. It will interfere only if some wrong things are observed,” said minister Shambhuraj Desai.
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