CM Fadnavis, BJP leaders participate in day-long fast

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and other senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders participated a day-long fast, which started at 11 am, that was organised by the party to protest against the problems allegedly created by the Opposition during the recent Parliamentary session.

Food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat, who also participated in the fast at Pune, called a meeting in the town hall about two-and-a-half hours after the fast was kicked off. However a recording and photographs of sandwiches and wafers allegedly being served during the meeting— which was attended by MLAs Bala Bhegde and Bhimrao Tapkir — were being widely circulated in spite of the party having announced that the fast would be observed for the whole day throughout the country.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and all Union ministers participated in the fast. Railway minister Piyush Goyal participated at Thane while other senior state BJP leaders sat on fast in other cities. Mr Fadnavis participated in the fast at Vile Parle along with MP Poonam Mahajan while BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar, MLAs Parag Alavani and Ameet Satam among others also took part.

Sena MP distances self

Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete, who is the Union Cabinet minister for heavy industries and public sector enterprises, was sharing a dais with fasting BJP leaders on Thursday morning. However, according to sources on receiving instructions from his party, which has been severely criticising the BJP, Mr Geete left the dais.