Days after demanding an early clearance of GST compensation dues worth Rs 24,000 crore, the Maharashtra Deputy Chief minister Ajit Pawar on Monday said that during the BJP-led government at the Centre there has been discrimination especially against the non-BJP ruled states. “There is some discrimination from the central leadership. No matter how many crises occur, the development of the state will not stop,” he noted.
Pawar said despite pending arrears, the present economic slowdown, the coronavirus pandemic and the Tauktae cyclone, the development process has not been impacted in Maharashtra during MVA regime.
"All I am saying is that the rulers come and go. Change does take place. In the end, the people elect whatever is on their minds. We have all seen this in the recent five state elections. When Dr Manmohan Singh, Sharad Pawar, P Chidambaram were in the government in the past, there was never such discrimination. But now the discrimination is felt,” said Pawar.
Pawar chose to express his displeasure in the presence of union minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athawale at the function to flag off trial runs for the city’s two new metro train lines, Metro 2A and 7, on the Charkop-Dahisar-Aarey route.
"After the Tautkae cyclone, the Prime Minister was to first come to Mumbai then to Gujarat. However, for some reason, the Prime Minister's one-day visit was cancelled as we don’t know the reason behind it. But the PM went directly to Gujarat and immediately announced the Central aid of Rs 1,000 crore without any demand from his home state. We will be happy with whatever assistance the Centre deems fit to Maharashtra,” said Pawar. However, he noted that without waiting for the Central aid, the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced financial aid for the cyclone hit Konkan region.
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