Maharashtra monsoon session: In dangerous precedent, Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis piles on activists, protestors

Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief minister

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislature on Friday that the government had identified certain activists who were attempting to stall the state's growth by opposing projects such as the proposed Barsu chemical refinery.

"The Barsu chemical refinery is a project that will benefit Maharashtra. However, after protests and delays, the international investors who were to collaborate with Indian companies, have invested in similar projects in Pakistan. Our loss is Pakistan's gain," he said, replying to the debate the Opposition parties had initiated in the Upper House. The Dy CM assured that Indian companies would complete the project.

Fadnavis said a few local people did not want the refinery, but they too would be convinced. "But the people who don't want the country to progress are seen in the protests. They are seen at the Aarey and Bullet train protests, they are seen at the Barsu protest and some of them are also seen at the Narmada (andolan). The same people are found everywhere, and surprisingly they visit Bangalore frequently.

They get funding from Bangalore. We have a record. They have connections with a banned organisation, Greenpeace," he told the house. The home minister said the government would protect ‘geoglyphs' (petroglyphs), a form of prehistoric rock art which is part of UNESCO list, at the site of the proposed refinery. "We have to think about the country and we all should come together."

Aurangzeb row

Fadnavis informed the house that there was a design to destabilise the state by way of glorifying the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. "It wasn't a coincidence that Aurangzeb's picture was set as a social media status at the same time by many in various districts. It was a design, a conspiracy," he said, insisting that it was handiwork of some divisive forces.

"Aurangzeb cannot be a hero for Indian Muslims whose heroes are Shivaji Maharaj, APJ Abdul Kalam. Indian Muslims are not from Aurangzeb's Turkic-Mongol tribe that has a meagre presence in Pakistan and India," he added, saying the police have deciphered the conspiracy and "persons glorifying Aurangzeb will not be spared".

New police stations

The HM said as per a new policy, the distance between two urban police stations should not be more than 4 km, and for rural places, the cap was 10 km. "This will lead to creation of new police stations. The special regions such as commercial/financial hubs, educational campuses, religious places, courts, dams, power projects and nuclear power projects will get new police stations," he said, adding that the number of crimes in a particular area will also be a parameter for setting up new stations.

Police stations' diaries will go digital and police personnel will be given a mobile app to track data of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), the second phase work of which is in full swing.

Ready for local polls

Fadnavis said the ruling parties were ready for the local body polls, but could do nothing about it because of the cases pending before the Supreme Court. "The government is not authorised to conduct polls, the election commission is. The court has stayed elections till the cases are decided," he told the Shiv Sena (UBT) members, in particular. "We also want polls. We are ready. If you want you can approach the election commission to seek information. And if you want, we all can go to the commission together and request it to hold the elections."

Now, probe in BMC's medicine purchase

The government has promised yet another probe in the Mumbai civic corporation's workings. This time, the BMC's healthcare expenses, Rs 4,000 crore per year, will be examined. The announcement came in reply to MLA Ashish Shelar's allegations that despite spending Rs 20,000 cr in the past five years, corruption doesn't allow ease for undergoing treatment, affordable diagnostics and medicines at civic hospitals.

Shelar said taxpayers didn't get what they expected from the BMC. "Patients don't get medicine but are told to buy it from outside. Patients are sent outside for radiology investigations. This must be investigated for corruption."

Shelar demanded a white paper on the city's healthcare system that has state or centre-run, civic, charity, private and corporate hospitals. "There is no coordination between these facilities. We don't know whether we have sufficient number of hospitals and what kind of money is spent on these hospitals that are used by people from outside as well.

Shelar said charity hospitals were flouting government rules and regulations. "Private hospitals charge exorbitantly for treatment and medicine. There is no government-approved rate card," he said. Industry Minister Uday Samant accepted the suggestion to publish a white paper and assured a high-level probe in the BMC healthcare/medicine purchase.

Congress, Oppn celebrate Rahul verdict

Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president Varsha Gaikwad and party workers celebrate the SC decision, on Friday. Pic/Ashish Raje

The state Congress and Opposition parties welcomed the SC's stay on Rahul Gandhi's prison sentence. They distributed sweets on the Vidhan Sabha premises. State Congress president Nana Patole termed it a victory of truth and democracy. "The Congress stands unfazed against dictatorship. Rahulji was framed in a false complaint. But it has been proved today that the judiciary is still alive in the country. It's a slap in the face of dictatorship," he told reporters.

I.N.D.I.A meeting in city

The news came ahead of the state leadership of I.N.D.I.A that has been preparing to host the Opposition's 26-party front's third meeting in Mumbai. Sources said the meeting will be held on August 31 and September 1. MVA leaders are expected to discuss arrangements on Saturday at a meeting convened by Sharad Pawar. The front will appoint an 11-member coordination panel at the Mumbai meeting.