Exudes confidence about stability of his government, says the alliance will complete its term
Mumbai: Regressive mentality is maligning the progressive Maharashtra. But, these forces would soon be exposed, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in an exclusive interview to the Free Press Journal.
When asked about the row over Maharashtra Bhushan Award being given to Babasaheb Purandare, Fadnavis said that some people with regressive mentality are trying to malign the image of progressive Maharashtra and push it back. “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule and Chhatrapati Shahu are the idols of this state. Nobody can turn them into private property,” he said.
Fadnavis also opened up his mind on several other issues. “My government is stable and we shall complete our tenure of five years together with Shiv Sena and other allies,” he said when he was asked to comment on NCP Chief Sharad Pawar’s recent statement that the government would fall before Mumbai corporation polls next year.
“I don’t give much value to what Pawar said. He is politically wise and is left with no alternative, but to say something that would please his followers. His followers are demoralised after they lost power. So, he has to keep their moral high. He makes such statements out of such compulsions,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis declined to react over the questions regarding criticism of his government in Shiv Sena Mouthpiece Saamana. He said, “I shall react if head of a political party says something. I speak to Uddhav every day. But, he never said the things in the manner they are written in Saamana.”
The CM also expressed confidence that he would be able to mend ways with the other smaller allies who at time are very harsh against the BJP. “Jankar (RSP) and Mete (Shiv Sangram) are our part. They went to legislative council on our party quota. Raju Shetty and Athawale might be having some different opinions, but, we shall sort it out with them. There might be some unrest amongst among workers all these party workers as political appointments on corporations are yet to be made. That would be sorted out in about a month’s time,” he said.
When asked whether the power sharing formula regarding the corporations and members therein has been finalised, he said, appointments on corporations and committees would be made within 2-3 months. “Most of them would be done by this month end itself. We shall try to adjust more number of allies in the form of members of these corporations or the committees,” he added.
When asked about the criticism over Rajasthan CM’s appeal to industries in Mumbai, Fadnavis was more forthright. “She herself has made it clear that she was not here just to appeal the industries that Rajasthan is a viable destination if they are thinking of expanding their operations elsewhere,” he said. “We have developed an atmosphere of trust due to which the industries are coming here. And I would also like to tell people who appear afraid that the industries would flee Maharashtra that they are grossly underestimating the state,” he added.
