Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s birth anniversary was skipped by the Shiv Sena recently following pressure from the Congress. "The CM did not offer tribute to Savarkar. Nor a word on Twitter,” he said. (File) The budget session of the Maharashtra legislature will begin on Monday under the shadow of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state, and is likely to be a stormy affair with the opposition BJP expected to corner the state government over various issues.
The 10-day-long session will have eight working days and the budget will be tabled on March 8.
Bills pertaining to departments such as revenue, higher education and home are likely to be taken up. A draft of the Shakti Act, which provides for strict punishment for crime against women and children, is under consideration of a joint select committee of both Houses.
The state budget session is normally held for six weeks, but in view of the pandemic situation, it has been curtailed.
Ahead of the budget session, BJP leaders drew up a strategy to intensify the attack against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government over several core sectors — agriculture, home, finance and social.
Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s birth anniversary was skipped by the Shiv Sena recently following pressure from the Congress. “The CM did not offer tribute to Savarkar. Nor a word on Twitter,” he said.
The Opposition will demand initiation of a criminal case against Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Rathod, who resigned on Sunday. It will also raise issues of corruption in bureaucrat transfers, and constitution of statutory regional development boards for Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.
“The so-called budget session is of such short duration. The government does not want any discussion on important matters. They don’t want to face charges of corruption,” Fadnavis said.
“The three-party coalition government has failed the people. There is no coordination nor accountability. The one function which has shown consistency is officers’ transfer.”
Even after a year, farmers have not received crop loan waiver, the BJP leader alleged. Nor have farmers who repaid loans received the promised incentives.
“Till now, 3.5 lakh farmers have complained of power disconnection. And 75 lakh people have received notice to repay electricity bills or face disconnection. If farmers and poor people are subject to such administrative atrocities by the government, it amounts to Mughal regime,” he said.
It took 20 days for the government to seek resignation of forest minister Rathod, Fadnavis said. “The BJP will raise this issue in the session. We want criminal action against Rathod. FIR should be filed.”