Eknath Shinde: MVA had plans to arrest Fadnavis, but I toppled govt before that

Shinde was addressing a press conference in Mumbai ahead of the state budget session (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

“I was witness to the conspiracy hatched to arrest Fadnavis and Mahajan to put the BJP on the backfoot. However, I toppled the government before they could do it,” he claimed.

When asked if action would be taken against the conspirators, Shinde said that the previous government had been ousted, which was enough, adding that if needed an inquiry will be initiated.

Fadnavis, who is also the state Home and Finance minister, has claimed several times in the past that the MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray planned to arrest him and the “contract” for it was given to the then Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey.

The Shinde-Fadnavis government also announced that recommendations of the Page-Lad committee will be made applicable to safai kamgars or conservancy workers where kin of safai kamgars will be given 100 per cent preference in jobs by inheritance. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Speaking at Sunday’s press conference, Fadnavis said they will request all the opposition parties to cooperate with the government to pass the Lokayukta Bill in the Legislative Council.

The Bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly during the Winter Session last year.

“Currently there are three Bills pending in the Legislative Council. Apart from that, there are seven more Bills, which are proposed. We will insist on passing the Lokayukta Bill in the Legislative Council. But as we do not have a majority in the Council, we will seek consensus on it. We appeal to all the parties to cooperate to pass the Bill,” Fadnavis said.

The Shinde-Fadnavis government also announced that recommendations of the Page-Lad committee will be made applicable to safai kamgars or conservancy workers where kin of safai kamgars will be given 100 per cent preference in jobs by inheritance.

“It was decided to appoint a cabinet sub-committee regarding the various demands of the safai kamgars. The kin of safai kamgars across all state-run and civic institutions like hospitals and mortuaries will be given preference in government jobs but contractual workers will not get this benefit,” an official said.

“The immediate kin of the conservancy worker or any person who undertakes to take care of the safai kamgar in a written affidavit will be deemed eligible for the job by right of inheritance. Their age should be minimum 18 years and maximum 45 years. A minimum of 15 years of service will remain mandatory for those safai kamgars who take voluntary retirement,” the official said.

Officials said that kin of safai Kamgars who are educated will be given class 3 or class 4 jobs based on their educational qualification.