Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray opposed Mumbai-Nagpur expressway project: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SCP) president Sharad Pawar tried to create hurdles in the land acquisition process for the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway, but farmers backed the project wholeheartedly, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

Participating in an interactive session at the 'Sushasan Mahotsav' organised by Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Fadnavis said Thackeray had addressed public meetings in villages where land was to be acquired for the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway project, reported PTI.

"Uddhav Thackeray went to a village, addressed a public meeting and told villagers that their land will be snatched and asked them not to give land for the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway project," said Fadnavis, who was then the chief minister of Maharashtra, reported PTI.

He said former Union minister Pawar also addressed meetings in Sambhajinagar against the project.

He said the government offered the villagers rates that were four times the value of the land to be acquired for the project.

"We also said that the villagers will get five times the value of the land if they handed over their land to the government through consent orders," he said, reported PTI.

Fadnavis said land acquisition in the village where Thackeray had addressed a public meeting was completed within a single day, reported PTI.

"We acquired the land for the project through consent orders in a single day. We did the registrations and also made payments to their bank accounts," he said.

Fadnavis said that Eknath Shinde, who was the PWD Minister then, went to the village and signed the registration papers, reported PTI.

Fadnavis said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he was able to complete infrastructure projects such as the Atal Setu-Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and the Navi Mumbai greenfield airport which were pending for several decades, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis was on Friday slammed by the opposition in Maharashtra for his apparent off the cuff remarks over the killing of former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar during a Facebook Live event, reported PTI.

Replying to a query during a media interaction, Fadnavis, who is also the state deputy chief minister, termed the opposition's charges as politically motivated, reported PTI.

"This (Ghosalkar's killing) is a serious incident, but even if a dog were to come under a vehicle, they (opposition) will seek the home minister's resignation," Fadnavis said, reported PTI.

State Congress president Nana Patole said the remarks by Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader, were irresponsible.

"If this is the reaction of Fadnavis, then it is unfortunate," Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad said. "The law and order situation in the state is in a shambles and Fadnavis should resign, owing moral responsibility," the former minister added.

Ghosalkar was shot dead in Mumbai on Thursday evening during a 'Facebook Live' by Mauris Noronha, a local 'social activist', who also ended his own life.

(With inputs from PTI)