`Performance of the Sena-BJP govt has not been up to the mark’

Excerpts:

How do you react to Bal Thackeray’s strong public criticism against you in Saamna? It was the first direct attack from Thackeray after you became Chief Minister.

I have no comments to offer on the contents of the interview. For me, the chapter is closed after my meeting with my politicalmentor. I have cleared all the doubts raised by him. Apparently, it happened owing to misunderstanding at some levels.

But still there is a general feeling among party workers and also the bureaucracy that you are at loggerheads with Thackeray?

These are all rumours and the rumour mills will never stop. My relations with Balasaheb are absolutely cordial. I have been meeting him regularly to brief him on major developments in the party as well as in the government.

Apparently, he is not happy with the performance of the government. What do you feel about his observations?

It is true that the performance of the alliance government is not up to the mark. And Balasaheb has rightly expressed concern over the performance of my government. I am taking all possible steps to improve the performance and also improve the efficiency of the administration. I feel there is scope for improvement.

Citing the poor performance of the government, he decided to keep off active politics for three months. Will youpersuade him to revoke the decision?Some senior party leaders and I personally called on Balasaheb to request him to revoke his decision. We will be meeting him again. Let me say it frankly, we need his guidance and advice every moment.

In the whole process, the credibility your government has suffered. What steps are you taking to restore it?

Drastic changes have been made in the administration to make the government more result-oriented, we have transferred more than two dozen top officials. Now, these officials will have a fixed tenure of two to three years so that they will be able to deliver the goods. We are also seeking guidance and advice from Balasaheb on making the government more people-friendly.

Thackeray has also criticised you for your pro-Pawar leanings. Is it true that you are in constant touch with your predecessor?

That is not the case. I did not meet Sharad Pawar in the last six months. However, we accidentally met at Mantralaya when the counting for the mid-term polls was inprogress. It was not an official meeting, but we met accidentally. (The picture of this `accident’ where Joshi is apparently congratulating Pawar is what is said to have annoyed Thackeray.)

For the first time, you were directly criticised on the floor the House by none other than your own party member. Do you think in view of this there is a threat to your leadership or you will be replaced soon?

I do not think that any proposal of change in leadership is pending before the Sena supremo. In fact, when a section of the members of the Press called on him recently, he had made it clear that there was no question of change in leadership. Balasaheb went ahead to say that I would not only complete my term but continue for another term.

How you react to the specific charge against your son Umesh and his links with builder Raj Dadarkar? The Opposition appeared to be more vociferous during the budget session than ever before.

There is no charge of corruption against my son. It is true that Raj Dadarkar is oneof his friends. If the Opposition continues its vilification campaign against me, I will give a befitting reply on the floor of the House as neither I nor any of the member of my family, including my son-in-law, is corrupt.

How you propose to tackle the row over the Srikrishna Commission report? You have been accused of deliberately avoiding tabling the report.

It is not true. Justice B.N. Srikrishna submitted his report in February 1998. Under the Commission of Inquiry Act, it is binding on the Government to table the report along with the Action Taken Report within six months of its submission. We are trying to secure the Action Taken Report by April 20. If we get the report, I will be the last person to hide it.

It is said the report is being withheld because there are specific findings against top Sena leaders.

I do not want to comment on the contents of the report as it is the prerogative of the legislature to get the report first. I am bound by the legislation.

There were reports that youcalled on Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to get section 3 (4) of the Commission of Inquiry Act repealed. Under this section, it is binding on the government to table the report within six months.

I met Vajpayeeji along with Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde. But we did not discuss the provisions of the Commission of Inquiry Act. The report is false and baseless.