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Journalism of Courage
Mumbai, March 17: Chief Minister Narayan Rane today described the charges of corruption and nepotism levelled by the Congress-led Opposition against his Government as politically motivated with an eye on the next Assembly elections.
Reacting to the two-day debate on the motion of thanks to Governor P C Alexander’s address, Rane compared the performance of his four-year-old Government with that of the long Congress rule. “Whether it is law and order, construction of roads or irrigation projects, our performance is outstanding compared with the erstwhile Congress rule. On the basis of our performance, I am sure, it will not be difficult for us to retain power in the State,” Rane added.
“We have always maintained high traditions in public life. This is evident from the resignation submitted by Minister of state for Urban Development Ravindra Mane,” Rane pointed out.
On the removal of regional balance on the basis of the report of the Dandekar Committee, Rane said during the Congress rule, Rs 3886 crorewas allocated for a period of 10 years, while the alliance government earmarked Rs 3600 crore for three years.
Rane also debunked allegations that the State was not in a position to impound its quota of water under the Krishna Water Tribunal Award. “We have to impound our quota before the year 2000. Here too, the Congress miserably failed. During its tenure, it was providing Rs 132 crore for the project, while the alliance government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 1200 crore per year.’
On the law and order situation, Rane claimed that compared to the erstwhile Congress rule, it was much better. He cited the number of encounters and the externment of Arun Gawli as a measure of the action taken by the Government in this sphere.
Rane however frankly admitted that the much publicised slum scheme did not make the desired progress for various reasons including legal and bureaucratic glitches.
Earlier, participating in the debate, Congress member Digvijay Khanvilkar, whose petition against the MSEBretrofitting tenders case led to the cancellation of the said contract yesterday, demanded a CBI probe into the issue.
CM’S SPEECH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: Chief Minister Narayan Rane today squarely blamed Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council, Chhagan Bhujbal, for bringing “personal rivalry” into politics without taking into consideration the Government’s laudable efforts in many sectors.
Rane was replying to the debate over the proposal thanking Governor P C Alexander for his speech in the State Legislature last month.
Bhujbal had accused the Government of corruption, insensitivity towards citizens’ problems and its failure in maintaining law and order in Maharashtra.
“Bhujbal has a habit of levelling baseless charges. Only because he wants to take revenge, he has failed to understand whatever good is being done by our government,” Rane retorted.
Replying to charges that the Sena-BJP Government had drained the coffers, Rane said the Government was in sound financial condition.“The Government has implemented recommendations of Fifth Pay Commission, revised salaries of government employees by facing a burden of Rs 3,800 crore. The alliance has spent double the amount on development projects than that spent by Congress government,” Rane said.
Stressing upon the pluses of the saffron rule in the State, he pointed to the fact that Maharashtra has stolen a march over other states in areas like infrastructure, industry, agriculture and power generation, and it was poised to make giant strides in information technology.
He rounded off his reply saying that Congress’ negative campaign aimed at wresting power would remain a pipe dream: “The people of Maharashtra will weigh the performance of Congress against that of SS-BJP alliance in last 4 years. I was expecting proper guidance from the Opposition, and it is clear the alliance will return to power with complete majority,” Rane said.
