The ruling Congress and NCP on Wednesday castigated the State BJP leaders for its “lack of commitment” to Maharashtra and said that the “black flag” agitation resorted to by it was an “insult” to corona warriors and people of the State.
Slamming the BJP for politicising the Coronavirus situation in the state, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and senior State Minister Balasaheb Thorat said: “The State BJP leaders are not committed to Maharashtra, their commitment lies with their leaders in Delhi. The protest called by Maharashtra BJP is not a save Maharahstra protest but a save the party in the State”.
Deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar did not also mince words when it came to criticising the BJP leaders. “At a time when doctors, nurses, para-medical staff, sanitary workers, police and citizens of the state are fighting against Covid-19, the State BJP leaders – instead of being a part of the war against the pandemic – have resorted ot black flag agitation which is an insult to both the Corona warriors and the people of the state”.
“The black flag agitation called by the State BJP is untimely and it will not do any good for the Opposition party in the state. I am surprised as to how anyone in the BJP can think of a black flag agitation at this juncture,” Pawar said.
Singling out former chief minister and current leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis, Thorat said: “Fadanvis had said recently that during these difficult times we shouldn't engage in politics and rather work unitedly. But, his actions are not matching his words.....Rather than donating to the chief minister’s relief fund, he donated to the PM's relief fund. He should have actually fought with his leaders in Delhi for the benefit of Maharashtra”.
Alluding to the BJP leaders’ meeting with Maharashtra Governor Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Tuesday at which they complained against the Uddhav Thackeray about the “ineffective handling” of the Covid-19 situation in the state, Throat said: “We would have appreciated him immensely if he had got an economic package approved from Delhi for Maharashtra. But, Fadnavis and his colleagues in the state BJP are not interested in speaking to the government but are more interested in going to the Raj Bhavan and talking to the Governor”.
“We are ready to listen to them, if they point out any flaw we are willing to rectify it, but rather than that, they are more interested in creating confusion in the state,” the Congress leader said.
“The state BJP is interested in creating problems for the Maharshtra government rather than looking for solutions. The fact is that Fadnavis is not committed towards the state, his commitment lies with the BJP leaders in Delhi. How can the BJP leaders think of politics even in times of crisis?,” Thorat asked.