Maharashtra: Oppn boycotts customary high tea; Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis says ‘worry about own unity’

WHILE the opposition expressed determination to take on the state government and boycotted the customary high tea hosted by the chief minister on the eve of the Legislative session that begins on Wednesday the Eknath ShindeDevendra Fadnavis questioned the very unity of the three parties that ruled the state till JuneThe opposition has submitted a sevenpage letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde mentioning the issues that led to the boycott Addressing a joint press conference Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said that the current government was not approved by the law as the Supreme Court has not decided on the power struggle yet He also demanded action against the MLAs of Shinde faction for lsquocriminalrsquo actsPawarSpeakPawar claimed the government which expanded the Cabinet and distributed portfolios six weeks after assuming power was not serious about the rainhit farmers and maintaining law and order He assured that the united opposition will raise important issues and seek answers He also observed that since most of the sessionrsquos time had been spent discussing frivolous things the opposition will try to change the trendHe slammed the Shinde MLAs for being power drunk and vowed to question the government over rowdy behaviour He said one of the MLAsmdashHingoli MLA Santosh Bangarmdashwas reported for assaulting a midday meal manager and threatening the rival workers ldquoIs this arrogance because you are in power We will not tolerate itrdquo he said asking the CM to take action against the MLAsApart from Bangar Mumbairsquos Magathane MLA Prakash Surve has also been reported for instigating party workers against the rival factionHe said the government will be questioned over the inclusion of tainted ministers and scrapping of the decisions that the previous MVA government had taken in the interest of the peoplelsquoWill probe MLAsrsquoSpeaking on the allegation against MLAs CM Shinde said ldquoWe donrsquot support their behaviour Law is equal for all The inquiry will be done and action will be takenrdquoHowever he reminded Pawar who accused the Shinde MLAs of misusing power ldquoWho in the previous government arrested Sena workers registered cases and externed them to put pressure on them to join the party NCP I can tell you everything if neededrdquo Speaking on scrapping of decisions taken by the erstwhile MVA the CM said ldquoWe havenrsquot scrapped them We are reviewing them because the money allocated for them is not justifiedrdquo lsquoGhajini ailmentrsquoDeputy CM and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the lsquounjustifiedrsquo allocation done by the previous government will impact the statersquos budget and hence the decisions were being reviewedldquoInstead of worrying about the status of the government the opposition should worry about their unity The Congress has already objected to the selection of opposition leader in the upper houserdquo said FadnavisAccording to Fadnavis the oppositionrsquos letter was a fine example of lsquoGhajini ailmentrsquo shortterm memory loss ldquoFour pages are about the demands that we have been demanding when we were in the opposition They are affected by a Ghajini ailment But it is good that the opposition leader expects us to do what his government couldnrsquot do We assure him that we fulfil their demandsrdquoPower sharing formulaFadnavis came out with an explanation over the charge that the BJP had got 80 per cent share in the portfolio allocation Presenting the departmentwise budgetary allocation for the partners he said ldquoThe BJP has Rs 317 lakh crore 60 per cent while the Sena has Rs 197 lakh crore 40 per cent In the previous government headed by Uddhav Thackeray the Sena had a mere 1288 per cent allocationrdquoVande Mataram rowShinde and Fadnavis said the opposition to cultural affairs minister Sudhir Mungantiwarrsquos suggestion that government employees begin telephonic conversations with lsquoVande Mataramrsquo instead of lsquohellorsquo was out of hate for the historic slogan ldquoIt shows their mentality Why are they opposing it It is not a compulsion but a suggestionrdquo said Fadnavis Shinde said ldquoThe martyrs have walked to the gallows chanting lsquoVande Mataramrsquo Why are some people allergic to itrdquoCabinet decisionsMeanwhile the Cabinet decided on Tuesday to inaugurate the Lata Mangeshkar Music Academy on September 28 the late singerrsquos birth anniversaryOn the occasion of the 75th year of independence all citizens aged 75 and above will be allowed to travel free of cost on state transport busesThe state will also insure Govindas or dahi handi players for R10 lakh each said Shinde