Shiv Sena takes potshots at CM Devendra Fadnavis

Taking potshots at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Shiv Sena in its editorial mouthpiece Saamana, said that the state has not been able to attract enough investments to compensate for Mr Fadnavis’ travel expenses to foreign nations.

The editorial also said that while the efforts taken by the chief minister and state industries minister to bring investments in Maharashtra need to be appreciated, Vidarbha and Marathwada also need to be developed, as 1,328 farmers in these regions had committed suicide in the last year.

“Maharashtra has always contributed to the nation in a big way, but Mumbai has always been looted. There have been many investor summits held in the city in the last 50 years to boost industrial growth but Mumbai has to keep struggling to get its dues,” the Sena said.

“The CM is touring foreign nations along with a large number of delegates. What investments has Maharashtra been able to garner through these tours Not enough to even compensate the travel expenses of these delegates!” it said.

It added that it would thus be important to see what investments Maharashtra would get from the Make In India summit, which would include 60 countries and 5,000 delegates. “Along with Mumbai, Vidarbha and Marathwada also need to be developed as 1,328 farmers have committed suicide there in the last one year,” it said.

The Sena said those in power should remember development should not be at the cost of farmers and the working class. “The Jaitapur nuclear plant will take away the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and foreign investments in the port sector in Palghar will render lakhs of fishermen jobless. Those in power need to remember that they do not insist on development that destroys the lives of these people,” it said.