Mumbai: In a seven-page letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has appealed to him not to take up the responsibility of heading a high-level committee for the development of Mumbai, as proposed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
“As Prime Minister, your responsibility is the whole country, so the question arises as to why only Mumbai, why not Chennai, Shillong or Delhi where you reside, why not the two new capital cities of the divided Andhra Pradesh? Even Gandhinagar? How can it be expected that you pay attention to the capital of one state alone?”
He pointed out that the responsibility of the state lies squarely with the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues, they cannot side step their responsibilities or be untrue to the oath of office. “To suggest that there are no thinkers or planners or visionaries in Maharashtra to help solve the developmental issues, including the problem of its capital city, is to insult all of Maharashtra. I am sure that was not the intent of the chief minister.”
The NCP chief said that Fadnavis had explained in the legislative assembly a few days ago that many issues critical to Mumbai’s development are pending in Delhi and having a committee led by the prime minister would help in resolving these issues early. Pawar noted, “Prime Minister, both of us, as persons who have been chief ministers of states, know that these issues are resolved only by consistent follow up at every level.”
Pawar wrote to the prime minister on Thursday after being discharged from Breach Candy Hospital where he had undergone a total hip replacement surgery on December 5, after sustaining a fracture of the thigh bone after slipping in the lawn at his Delhi residence.
Pawar pointed out that according to protocol, the announcement for the committee should have been made after seeking approval from the prime minister’s office so that there was no embarrassment in the future. “So far there has been no indication that such consultations have been done.”
He added that over the years Mumbai has been developed by the local body and state government and at no time were the union government or the prime minister needed to address its problems.
Pawar also observed that “there are certain issues between Maharashtra and Gujarat on which both the states differ in opinion and interests. In such situations, any proposal suggested by [the] CM [of] Maharashtra will create misunderstanding[s] between the people of two states. I will be the last person who will be happy to see this.” The letters were also sent to Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Finance.
