Devendra Fadnavis counters Opposition over MoUs, dance bars

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hit back at the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led opposition accusing them of playing politics over the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Dance Bar issues. Addressing a press conference at Sahyadri Guest House on the eve of Budget session, he said that the state would put all details of Make in India MoUs up on the website so that anybody can access the information.

Referring to the Opposition demand on White Paper on the MoUs signed during the recently held Make In India (MII) week, the chief minister retorted back that the government intends to upload all the MoUs and their details on the government website. “We will upload every detail of the MoUs signed by the government during MII so that the opposition does not have to file Right To Information (RTI) queries to get details,” he said. He further disclosed that the government has constituted a task force under state chief secretary to keep track of all the MoUs signed.

Referring to the opposition jibe at the drought tourism of his cabinet colleagues, the Mr Fadnavis said, “It is for the first time in the history of the state that ministers have undertaken a visit to the taluka levels. If we go, they call it a tourism visit. But what do we call their visits It is for the first time in the history of the state that ministers have visited up to the taluka levels to gauge the ground conditions”.

He also said that Rs 2,536 crore has already been deposited in bank accounts of farmers and that the government will provide an additional assistance of Rs 2,000 crore. The government will give special incentives to farmers growing soya beans and cotton. Besides, the government has set aside Rs 1,000 crore to provide them with crop insurance. Even those who have not taken the insurance will be provided with money, he added.

Replying to queries over the state budget, he said every department will come up with their policies in the session and the Budget will ensure that all challenges that the state is facing are addressed. He said that the budget would be one which would respond to the challenges faced by the state. He added that 15 bills will be tabled in the Budget session, including the Prevention of Social Boycott Bill. Along with this, seven pending Bills will be tabled and five ordinances will be converted into Bills.