From the alleged sexual assault of a minor in neighboring Badlapur to what it called inflated claims of investment flow into Maharashtra, the Congress on Friday launched a broadside against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleging a complete breakdown of law and order under his leadership. The party also questioned whether Fadnavis was projected as a future prime ministerial candidate.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal slammed the government over the Badlapur incident, calling it a reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
“The incident of sexual assault on a minor in Badlapur is infuriating and shameful. Criminals of all kinds have unleashed chaos in Maharashtra, while the government and law seem helpless. The rulers no longer have the courage to take action against criminals.
Devendra Fadnavis “He is the most passive, inefficient and irresponsible prime minister that Maharashtra has ever seen,” Sapkal said.
Sapkal pointed out that a similar incident involving schoolgirls had occurred in Badlapur about a year and a half ago, but alleged that the government did not act decisively. “In that incident, which took place in a school associated with the BJP and the RSS, no action was taken against the president or the school secretary. Even though a Pocso case was registered against the school secretary Tushar Apte, the BJP wanted to name him as a co-opted corporator. The administration is not functioning, which has emboldened criminals,” he said.
He further alleged that law and order in the state had completely collapsed. “Minister Bharat Gogawale’s son has absconded in a case and is still in touch with his father, but the police are unable to trace him. When such ministers are in the cabinet, the high court is forced to ask why the prime minister is so helpless,” Sapkal said.
Echoing similar concerns, Congress MLC and group leader in the Legislative Council Satej Patil held the state government responsible for incidents like the Badlapur case. “The government is responsible for incidents like Badlapur. The law and order situation in the state has completely collapsed. These incidents will not stop until there is an independent Home Minister. As Chief Minister, you are the head of all departments, so why keep the Home Department with you?” —Patil asked.
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Meanwhile, in DelhiMaharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe addressed a press conference where he questioned the Chief Minister’s claims of having signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) worth Rs 30 lakh crore at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
“Going by the claims of the Maharashtra government in the last three years, it has signed MoUs worth Rs 50 lakh crore, which is almost equal to the state’s economy. Are these figures meant to create an impression that Fadnavis is the next face of the BJP chief minister? Is he trying to upstage others in the BJP by throwing out these numbers?” —Londhe asked.
Londhe said the government should provide details of actual investments made instead of announcing MoU figures. “Also, the government needs to explain how many of these companies are listed on the stock market. How much employment is actually being generated as of now after visiting Davos for the last three years? And the government needs to answer why the state’s flagship event, Magnetic Maharashtra, was never held after 2018?” said.