Budget Session: Opposition to boycott tea party over 'governance failures'

Opposition parties in Maharashtra announced on Sunday that they would boycott the customary tea party on the eve of the Assemblyrsquos Budget Session which begins on Monday citing the governmentrsquos failure to address multiple pressing issues news agency PTI reportedThey expressed concerns over the inclusion of tainted ministers in the cabinet the rise in crimes against women and statements from ruling party leaders about withholding funds from constituencies that elected opposition lawmakersThe Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA comprising the Congress Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar leads the opposition in the state while the ruling alliance Mahayuti consists of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Shiv Sena and NCPAccording to PTI while speaking to reporters in Mumbai Ambadas Danve Sena UBT legislator and Leader of the Legislative Council said the opposition had put forward multiple recommendations to the Maharashtra Government but none had been accepted or discussedBe it the excess land allegedly given to the Adani Group for Dharavi slum redevelopment or French company Systra India accusing the MMRDA Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority of severe harassment the government shows little concern for peoples problems Danve saidThe Sena UBT leader also criticised the government for reducing the number of beneficiaries under the lsquoMukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojanarsquo and for failing to support soybean and cotton farmers reported PTIGovt failing to take decisive action on womens safety Shiv Sena UBT legislatorBefore the elections this scheme Ladki Bahin was used to target votes from women Now over 10 lakh women have been declared ineligible Danve statedUnder the Ladki Bahin scheme eligible women receive a monthly aid of Rs 1500 with the government having promised to increase it to Rs 2100 before last yearrsquos Maharashtra Assembly ElectionsOn Sunday Danve convened a meeting of MVA leaders at his official residence to strategise for the session He said they would focus on issues such as the murder of Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh alleged scams in the agriculture department farmer loan waivers and irregularities linked to BJP leader Prashant KoratkarThe Sena UBT leader also accused the government of failing to take decisive action on crimes and womenrsquos safetySantosh Deshmukhs murder accused Krishna Andhale has been absconding for three months Crimes against women are increasing across Maharashtra he said citing the rape of a woman inside a state transport bus at Punersquos busy Swargate Bus StationContinuing his criticism of the governmentrsquos handling of law and order Danve said Prashant Koratkar who has threatened historian Indrajit Sawant enjoys government protection He should be arrested and jailed immediatelyState has allotted Rs 4000 crore for Mumbai but has left roads dug up across cityPolice have booked Nagpur resident Koratkar for allegedly threatening historian Sawant and making derogatory remarks about Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji MaharajDanve also criticised the government for appointing actor Rahul Solapurkar to a government committee despite his offensive remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj This government is protecting those who insult historical figures he saidThe Shiv Sena UBT leader further accused the government of failing to fulfil promises regarding farm loan waivers and crop procurement particularly for soybeans and cotton Farmers were lured with false promises of debt relief Even after the announcements no concrete action has been taken he saidThe opposition also raised concerns about infrastructure projects in Mumbai and alleged irregularities in the Dharavi redevelopment project Danve reiterated the allegations made by French consultant Systra against the MMRDA over Metro projects in and around MumbaiThe government has allocated Rs 4000 crore for Mumbai but has left roads dug up across the city It is difficult for citizens to even walk Danve saidHe also pointed to multiple court orders related to development projects approved before last yearrsquos assembly electionsAdditionally Danve highlighted alleged irregularities in smart prepaid electricity meters and the privatisation of Mahavitaran substations claiming that over 36000 bogus companies had been registered for money launderingThe Budget Session will continue until March 26With PTI inputs