Cabinet ministers write to Fadnavis, remind him of assurance to take steps in the issue
Unrest in the state Cabinet over the increase in the prices of pulses was laid bare on Tuesday after five Shiv Sena ministers wrote a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and submitted it in the state Cabinet meeting demanding steps to curb the spiraling cost of the essential commodities in the festive season.
The Sena ministers later stated that the issue had been discussed in the last three cabinet meetings and it had been decided to control the prices of tur dal around Rs120 per kg, but the decision had not been implemented. instructed his ministers to raise the issue in the cabinet meeting.
Toeing to directives from Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, the Sena ministers submitted a letter to the chief minister reminding him of his assurance to take steps to bring down the prices.
Speaking with the media at Sena Bhavan later on Tuesday, Sena leader and minister for road transport Diwakar Raote said, “In each of the cabinet meetings we were assured that the government will take steps to bring down the prices of pulses to
Rs120 per kg.”“We are raising the issue continuously with the chief minister but nothing has been implemented except for the assurance,” adding Mr Raote said, “Uddhavji has instructed us to ask CM to bring down the price before Diwali festival starts. That’s why we have submitted a written letter to Mr Fadnavis.”
In a four-line letter to CM, the ministers stated that despite raising issue continuously, that has not been the case so far. The Sena cabinet ministers stated that they have been pointing out to the widespread resentment in the public over the issue.
It may be recalled that Sena chief Mr Thackeray in late last week while campaigning for the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation election had directed the Sena ministers to raise the issue at the next cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, there was no reaction from chief minister over the letter. But minister for food and civil supply Girish Bapat held a meeting of official to take a stock of the seized pulses and how to release it in the open market.
