20 January,2024 10:58 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Aaditya Thackeray/File Photo
Former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray has criticised Shiv Sena leader and Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde for going on an unofficial "official tour" of the Netherlands. Thackeray expressed worry, without mentioning Shinde, about the MP heading a delegation of civic commissioners from Kalyan-Dombivli and Thane, as well as an additional commissioner from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
Thackeray, a Shiv Sena politician, questioned the Maharashtra government's acceptance of MPs to lead delegations for the Urban Development Department, asking whether Shinde's position as the Chief Minister's son influenced the delegation's leadership. He also inquired about the Ministry of External Affairs' approval for the journey and if such trips, led by MPs without democratically elected representatives, are authorised.
"Another foreign junket is that of an MP from the Gadaar gang (Shinde Sena) who has gone to the Netherlands for an official tour with Municipal Commissioners of Thane and Kalyan-Dombivali, Additional Municipal Commissioners of BMC and MMRDA," Thackeray scion wrote criticising Shrikant Shinde.
The former minister further wrote, "This tour has been posted by the Urban Development Dept handle on Instagram officially. Since when has Govt of Maharashtra started allowing MPs to lead delegations for the Urban Development Department? Is the leading of this delegation because the said person is a son of the minister of the concerned dept or because he is an MP?"
"Has the Indian Ministry of External Affairs given clearance for this tour and does it allow countries to directly take MPs to lead delegations with administrators of municipal corporations, in the absence of democratically elected representatives," Aaditya Thackeray questioned.
Before this, Thackeray pressed for transparency on the funding source for the trip - whether it was covered by the Government of Maharashtra or the Netherlands Government. Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, represents the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency.'
"Who has paid for this trip? The Govt of Maharashtra or the Netherlands Govt? If this has been allowed by MEA India, then I'm glad that many more MPs across party lines can substitute ministers and lead delegations and foreign visits," he further wrote.
He made these comments after he raised questions about issues about the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and the foreign holidays of the illegal CM on taxpayer money.
