Devendra Fadnavis slams opposition for 'boycotting' anthem at session's end
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday lashed out at the opposition for 'boycotting' the national anthem at the end of the month-long Budget session of state legislature.
Talking to reporters after the session ended this evening, Fadnavis said the opposition was badly mauled by the recent electoral losses, and could not face the ruling party in the legislature.
"Opposition leaders met me on Saturday and said they would participate in the proceedings if the suspension of their MLAs was revoked. Suspension was revoked, but the opposition did not keep their word. What pained me was they boycotted the national anthem at the end of the session as well," he said.
"I wish the God gives them good sense," the CM said. Fadnavis reiterated that loan waiver which the opposition demanded during the session was "one of the solutions" to farmers' problems, and not the only one. "Ours is a farmer-friendly government," he added.
To the question why BJP can grant farm loan waiver in Uttar Pradesh but not in Maharashtra, Fadnavis said the situation varied from state to state. "In Congress-ruled Karnataka, the state government has not accepted the demand for loan waiver but has sent a proposal to the Centre," he said.
Fadnavis justified suspension of 19 opposition MLAs for creating ruckus during the budget presentation, saying decorum of the house needed to be maintained.
"When we were in opposition, our MLAs too committed the same mistake. Our MLAs were suspended for one year. We revoked the suspension of Congress and NCP members in the same session," he pointed out.
On reports about possible reshuffle of Shiv Sena ministers in his cabinet, Fadnavis said it would be Sena's internal matter and the prerogative of Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
To the question whether loan waiver is bad economics, Fadnavis said it has no fiscal prudence. "But we can't ignore the social aspect. Political leadership needs to balance both economics and social reality. I am trying to strike a balance," he said.
