Two-day legislative session not enough: Devendra Fadnavis

Devendra Fadnavis. File pic

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said that the Uddhav Thackeray-led government used the novel Coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to curtail the Monsoon legislative session to mere two days, because of the internal politics of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis walked out of the business advisory committee meeting in protest on Tuesday when the government did not approve of the BJP's demand for a full length session. "When we need to discuss the issues of farmers, students, various sections of the society, and especially when a demand for holding a special session for the Maratha and OBC reservation has been raised, it is unfortunate that we will have only two days of proceedings on July 5 and 6," Fadnavis told media persons, asking whether "it was a government or tamasha".

He wondered why the concerns over the pandemic were raised only ahead of the legislative sessions. "We have uncontrolled administration and arrogant ministers. The government uses the coronavirus as a pretext for avoiding uncomfortable questions. It says no to the session while thousands of people gather to inaugurate the ruling party's office, and when crowds swell in the bars and permit rooms. Why trouble people because of your politics and three-party issues?" the ex-CM asked.

He added further that the paddy growers, banana farmers and cultivators in the Konkan region were faced with several serious problems that need solutions from the government. "Electricity is another issue. Students want their problems to be taken up. Law and order is critical. But the government doesn't want any of this to be discussed. We don't think the government will hold special sessions for Marathas and OBCs," he stated.

According to Fadnavis, the government was disregarding democratic procedures. "We demanded that the speaker be elected, but they haven't scheduled the elections yet. Why? Don't they want to follow the Constitution? The governor had reminded them of polls two sessions ago," he said, adding that the BJP would act like a strong opposition by raising public issues in the house, and in the streets if the session wasn't held.

Mandir bandh, madira shuru

Fadnavis has also alleged that the MVA government has scrapped a 40-year-old legislative decision to not grant new liquor licenses.

"Maharashtra is the only state where the mandir (temple) is shut but the madiralay is open and overflowing in the pandemic. And now, the government is expanding the liquor dens," he said.

According to Fadnavis, the state legislature had passed a decision somewhere in 1977 that no new liquor license (for retail sale) be issued. "But I have confirmed information that a proposal to this effect has reached the finance department. They are giving new licenses at the airports, metro stations, and splitting the existing licenses to create more out of them," said the ex-CM.

Fadnavis said the decision would be under the opposition's scrutiny. "They lifted prohibition from Chandrapur district against the popular demand for shutting the business," he said.