Opposition cries foul over not getting enough opportunities to question MVA Government

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis launched an attack on the MVA over scrapping of OBC quota, relief to farmers, bill to curtail governor’s powers among others. File pic

The Opposition has cried foul over not getting much opportunity to question the MVA government in the five-day winter session of the state legislature that begins on Wednesday. On the eve of the session, it alleged that the government was deliberate in curtailing the session and resorted to tactics that deny the BJP an even ground to speak for the public and expose the ruling parties for two years of mismanagement.

Declaring a boycott of the chief minister's customary tea party, Opposition leader in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said the government had halted democratic process, and attacked the MVA for changing the rules of the Speaker's election that is slated to be held later this week. He said that 12 BJP legislators were suspended with the sole purpose of reducing the Opposition's strength. "The MVA knows that its government is in danger, hence they sent home our 12 MLAs," he said, decrying a move to hold a voice vote instead of secret ballot for electing the Speaker who will be from the Congress.

Fadnavis listed out several issues that, according to him, were the outcome of the MVA's mismanagement. He said the political quota of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) was stalled only because of the government's inactivity. "We will raise this issue because the government which said it couldn't get the empirical data has now told the Supreme Court that it will collate the data in three months. What was the government doing in the past two years," he asked.

He also accused the government of being apathetic to the farmers who were struggling to get crop insurance for damaged produce. "The Centre has given the state [relief] money, but the government has kept the money locked in its treasury instead of handing it to the beneficiaries," he added. He further accused the MVA of not reducing VAT on fuel while many other states have cut the duty. "Instead, the MVA reduced the duty on imported liquor. This is a classic case of ‘sasti daru mehnga tel' (cheap liquor, expensive fuel)," he said.

Fadnavis highlighted the paper leaks and scams in the recruitment examinations of at least four departments and demanded a CBI probe. "Crores of rupees have been recovered from people involved in the scam which is linked with Mantralaya. The state police will not be able to investigate the links because of political pressure. The CBI can do the job of exposing the masterminds," he added, promising to expose the scams that have taken place in pandemic-related work, especially in the Mumbai civic body.

According to the ex-CM, the BJP will vehemently oppose the bill that takes away the governor's powers for appointing the vice-chancellors. "No other state has legislated such a law to control the universities. The V-Cs and academicians are opposed to the amendment," he said.

Fadnavis wished CM Uddhav Thackeray good health. "We will be happy to see him [in the session]. But did the MVA government make its presence felt in the past two years?" he said. The ex-CM added that the Opposition was not interested in creating a ruckus in the house, but wanted to debate as many issues. "But we're not allowed to raise questions, so we will do so in the streets," he said.

‘Govt ready to face questions'

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar addressed the media conference after the Cabinet meeting which was attended online by CM Uddhav Thackeray. He dismissed the Opposition's allegations and said that the government was ready to debate the issues raised in the session. He said like other states where a one-day, two-day or five-day sessions were held, the state session was also kept short because of the pandemic and the possibility of the new variant Omicron's outbreak. He said the session could be extended if needed when the government and Opposition meet on Friday. He added that 26 bills will be tabled in the session.

Reacting to Fadnavis's allegations, Pawar said the state police was able to probe the examination scam and there was no need to rope in the CBI which hasn't moved forward in other cases like the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. "We have information that the scam started three-four years ago. The police are investigating properly," he said, adding that the appointments will be scrapped if found fraudulent.

He further said the CM was keeping well and told the MVA colleagues that he would be attending the session. "He has asked us to arrange the meeting of the MVA tomorrow. He will be attending it. He has been working full-time and taking decisions," he said and added that the Opposition may bring in no confidence motion against the Speaker if they did not agree with the voice vote.

5
Days of the state winter session