The saffron party was embarrassed when its leader Ananth Kumar Hedge claimed that Devendra Fadnavis’ formation of government so abruptly was a planned ‘Drama’ to save Rs. 40,000 crore of central funds and return it safely. The Member of Parliament (MP) from Karnataka went on saying that it took former CM Fadnavis ’15 hours’ to make sure that the amount in central funds were protected.
On Saturday, during the campaign for by-polls in Uttara Kannada Constituency in Yellapur Ananth Hedge said ‘You all know that recently in Maharashtra for just 80 hours our person was Chief Minister, but soon Fadnavis resigned. Why did we have to do this drama? Didn’t we know? Despite knowing we don’t have a majority, why did he become Chief Minister? This is the question everyone asks’.
He said ‘over Rs. 40,000 crore’ was under the control of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, ‘If the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena came to power, it was certain that the Rs 40,000 crore would not have gone for development rather would have been used for something else (misused)’.
Hedge went further and said ‘This was all planned earlier. It was decided that whatever happens, a big drama was necessary. Which is why there was an adjustment and he became Chief Minister.’ He claimed ‘In those 15 hours, Fadnavis made sure the money went where it was supposed to go… it was kept safe. It was all returned to the centre. If it had been kept here – the next chief minister -you know what would have happened’.
Devendra Fadnavis came in front to ‘fact check’ the claims that were being made by Hedge, the former Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Fadnavis commenting on Hedge’s claims said ‘No such thing happened’. He added ‘These are completely false claims. I took no policy decision when I was in office. This is not the way these things happen. The government’s finance department can investigate such claims’.
Davendra Fadnavis, former CM of Maharashtra said referring to the Bullet Train Project ‘A company of the central government is implementing the bullet train project, where the Maharashtra government’s role is restricted to land acquisition only. Neither the Centre asked for any funds nor the Maharashtra government sent it back”. He added “not a single rupee of Maharashtra government has been returned to the Centre from any other project’.
The new government (Formed by Maha Vikas Aghadi) had already said that they will review the Bullet Train Project even before the government was formed.
It is possible that Hedge claims comes following the messages being circulated on both WhatsApp and Twitter which is trying to justify the 80 hours Chief Ministership stunt pulled off by BJP.
Randeep Surjewala, Congress’ Spokersperson tweeted ‘A Union Minister uncovered the facade of Modi Government, BJP’s anti-Maharashtra ideology has been unmasked. Was the federal structure left as a laughing stock? Was the Rs. 40,000 crore withdrawal a part of BJP’s scheme that was supposed to be used for the betterment of Farmers and Public of Maharashtra? Prime Minister, you must answer!’ (in Hindi)
एक केंद्रीय मंत्री ने खोली मोदी सरकार की पोल,
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 2, 2019
भाजपा का महाराष्ट्र विरोधी चेहरा बेनक़ाब हुआ
क्या संघीय ढाँचे को पाँव तले रोंद दिया गया,
क्या जनता व किसान की भलाई का ₹40,000 करोड़ एक षड्यंत्र से वापस ले लिया गया?
प्रधान मंत्री जबाब दें!https://t.co/OxvDzGtiXs
Nawab Malik, NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) Leader said that transferring such a gigantic amount back to Centre was not possible. He added that the reports are being spread just to cover-up the defeat of BJP.
On the morning of 23rd of November, Fadnavis was sworn as the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and NCP’s leader Ajit Pawar took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister who helped BJP to reach majority mark in Maharashtra by bringing in NCP’s MLAs. However, as Ajit Pawar failed to fulfil his promise, both Fadnavis and Pawar resigned from their respective offices on Tuesday before the floor test that was ordered by the Supreme Court of India.
On the 28th of November, 2 days after Fadnavis’ resignation, Uddhav Thackeray, 59 year old Shiv Sena Chief took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, he is the first of Thackeray family to become the CM. Uddhav Thackeray leads the Maha Vikas Aghadi (alliance of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress) in Maharashtra after parting ways from BJP over power-sharing. BJP and Shiv Sena were allies for over 30 years.
Sanjay Raut, MP from Shiv Sena tweeted today saying if Fadnavis did move the funds then it is ‘treachery’ with Maharashtra.
Bjp mp @AnantkumarH says @Dev_Fadanvis as CM for 80 hours, moved maharashtra’s 40000 cr Rs to center ? This is treachery with maharshtra , महाराष्ट्र के साथ गद्दारी है @Officeof UT
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) December 2, 2019
