2 weeks Ago By Anurag Bende
PUNE: A day after Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath campaigned in Maharashtra for the Mahayuti candidate and underscored his slogan 'Batenge to Katenge,' BJP's ally NCP distanced itself from the statement. NCP Chief Ajit Pawar on Thursday said that people from 'outside' come and make some statements, but Maharashtra always maintained communal harmony. "Nobody should compare Maharashtra with other states.
People of this state always ensure communal harmony. Some people from outside come here and make statements, but Maharashtra never accepted any communal division. The state follows the secular ideology of Shahu (Maharaj), (Jyotiba) Phule, and (Babasaheb) Ambedkar," Ajit Pawar said without naming UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
Pawar also reiterated that he will be campaigning for his party's candidate, Nawab Malik, who is contesting assembly polls. Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Currently out on bail, Malik is the NCP official candidate from the Mankhurd-Shivajinagar seat, from where Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena also nominated its candidate.
Though both are candidates of Mahayuti, BJP decided to support Shinde's candidate and ruled out campaigning for Malik considering the case he is facing. "There are only allegations made against Malik, but none of those allegations have been proven. How can he be held guilty only on the basis of allegations? I will campaign for him," Ajit Pawar said on Thursday.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding multiple rallies for the Mahayuti candidates, Ajit Pawar said that he does not need his rally in Baramati. "I do not need anyone's rally in Baramati. More of his rallies are required in other constituencies," Pawar said.
On the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's rally underscoring his 'Batenge to Katenge' slogan, Ajit Pawar, who also holds the portfolio of the finance department, criticised MVA's promise of giving Rs 3,000 to women to counter Mahayuti's Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, which gives Rs 1,500 to eligible women in the state. He said, "MVA members took objection to Ladki Bahin questioning its feasibility, and now they are promising to offer a higher amount. How are they going to manage the finances of the state after giving higher amounts to women?" "With Rs 3,000 per month to eligible women, it will require a provision of Rs 90,000 crore.
They are also promising Rs 4,000 per month to unemployed youths, for which an additional provision of Rs 40,000 crore will have to be made, which means that the state will be spending Rs 1.5 lakh crore only for these two schemes out of the state's budget of Rs 7 lakh crore. How will they be managing the salaries, pensions, interest on loans, and other expenditures?" Pawar said.
Responding to a question that the RBI Governor expressed concern over states making such promises, the deputy chief minister said, "It is the Governor's view as they have a different perspective about the finances. However, when it comes to running the state, we also have to support the people of marginalised communities.".
