Shiv Sena hits back over transparency'

Mumbai: Giving it back to the BJP on its demand of transparent functioning in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Shiv Sena on Tuesday demanded transparent functioning at the Centre and state as well. Shiv Sena MLC Anil Parab said that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should allow journalists and the leader of the opposition to attend cabinet meetings, like it is in the case of standing committee meetings of the BMC, to ensure transparency in the decision-making process. The two parties are going to meet on Wednesday afternoon again for a discussion on their prospective alliance for the upcoming BMC polls.

The BJP has been emphasising repeatedly that it would forge an alliance with the Sena only on the condition of clean functioning. The CM also raised the issue of transparency and criticised corruption in the BMC. The Sena, however, said the norms should be extended at the central and state government levels as well. “We, too, believe in transparency. We are in alliance in the BMC for many years. The citizens have also responded well to our alliance. But the transparency should be at the Centre and the state also, and not only in the BMC. The CM should allow journalists and the leader of the opposition to attend cabinet meetings, on the lines of the standing committee meetings of the BMC,” said Mr Parab, who is involved in the negotiation process on the Sena’s behalf.

The Sena leader also questioned if the Modi government’s demonetisation decision was a transparent one. “The decision of demonetisation could have been taken keeping everyone in consideration. Do we call it a transparent decision now? There has to be some definition of transparency. All municipal corporations should be transparent, even the one in Nagpur, which is ruled by the BJP,” Mr Parab said.  

On the alliance talks, the Sena said that no formula has been discussed thus far. “There is no proposal from the BJP yet and no formula has been discussed. We will soon have another round of discussions on the issue,” the Sena leader added. Meanwhile, the CM called Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray over the phone and decided on Wednesday afternoon for another meeting on the alliance, the sources said.