Mumbai, July 11: Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde delivered a strong defense of the ruling coalition during his address in the Legislative Council on Friday. He accused the opposition of conducting a media trial and highlighted the government’s achievements in welfare schemes and infrastructure projects.
Responding to a proposal brought forth by the opposition last week, Shinde dismissed rumors of a rift within the coalition. He also took a jab at the Thackeray faction while detailing key development projects and initiatives for farmers.
In a rebuttal to attempts to create discord between him and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shinde emphasized the mutual trust between them. To illustrate this bond, he recited a couplet in Urdu dedicated to Fadnavis in the assembly: “We are not the ones to break hearts, nor to hold hands and then part ways. Our friendship is like water; no matter how hard one tries, we will not be separated.”
Upon the visit of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to his office, Shinde clarified that it was merely a matter of courtesy and not a political strategy. He explained that Pawar had come to his office following a meeting regarding a border dispute, while he was present in a cabinet meeting at that time.
Shinde stated, “Sharad Pawar is a senior leader. As soon as I learned he was in my office, I welcomed him with a shawl and a fruit basket, in line with Maharashtra’s tradition.” He added that the criticism surrounding this visit stemmed from jealousy and unease.
He also praised Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Milind Narvekar for his courage in speaking the truth about safety concerns related to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s ‘missing link’ project. Shinde accused other opposition leaders of criticizing without verifying facts.
Commenting on the Uddhav Thackeray faction’s ‘Ram Raksha’ movement, Shinde remarked, “Some people only care about ‘dham’ (money and power) while in power, and remember ‘Ram’ only after losing it.”
He further mocked the Shiv Sena (UBT) election symbol ‘torch,’ suggesting that if their symbol were a cigarette lighter, they might claim that Lord Hanuman used it to set Lanka ablaze.
Shinde reiterated that the assembly should be used to address public issues, not for media trials. He noted that heavy rainfall has occurred in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Palghar since July 1, while some areas in Vidarbha and Marathwada are still awaiting sufficient rain.
He reported that 50 to 55 percent of sowing has been completed in the state, assuring that farmers will not be left alone under any circumstances. The government has already allocated thousands of crores for crop loss compensation, damage from snails, and loan waivers up to two lakh rupees.
Regarding the annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur and Alandi, Shinde shared that the government has made special arrangements, including toll fee exemptions, 5,500 state transport buses, health facilities, mobile toilets, and air ambulance services.
Defending the ‘missing link’ project, he stated that all safety standards have been strictly adhered to. Once completed, travel time between Mumbai and Pune will be reduced by 40 minutes, saving approximately one crore rupees in fuel daily.
In conclusion, Shinde warned the opposition that baseless allegations against significant development projects harm Maharashtra’s progressive image.
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