Ajit Pawar on stage with Uddhav Thackeray, MVA attacks BJP for 'weakening Maharashtra'

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray gave May 6 as the date of his planned visit to Barsu, the site of the proposed refinery in Ratnagiri, and NCP leader Ajit Pawar blamed the Shinde-Fadnavis government for what he termed as the collapse of law and order and the state's poor financial situation at an MVA rally held at BKC on Monday evening.
Ajit's presence at the rally was noted as it came days after speculation that he could join the BJP and his subsequent denial and clarification.

The MMRDA ground in BKC was packed to capacity and according to estimates, there were close to 30,000 people present, while some stood outside the maidan.
Uddhav had last week said he would go to Barsu where villagers have been protesting against the proposed project. He reiterated he would go there, saying "it was not in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) or Bangladesh". He said the "Vajramuth" or fist of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had come together "to stop the defamation of Maharashtra and disrobing of Mumbai."
Why is PM silent when BJP leaders abuse me: UddhavThackeray
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Monday hit out at Union home minister Amit Shah, saying that "the people of Maharashtra won't stop before showing him the ground."
Addressing an MVA rally at the BKC, he also took a dig at PM Modi over his comment at a poll rally that the Congress had abused him 91 times. Uddhav asked, "Why has the PM remained silent when BJP leaders have abused me, Aaditya and my family every day?" He said Shiv Sainiks had still not spoken back in the language that BJP leaders use and were exercising restraint as part of Maharashtra's culture.
After the recent MVA rallies in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur, Monday's was the third.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar said, "There is complete collapse of the law and order situation and the less said about the financial situation, the better. The entire state is witnessing a spate of murders and law-enforcing agencies have maintained a discreet silence. In Pune city, the 'koyta' gang has challenged the authority of the police, who have failed to rein in gangsters. The finance department has stalled the payment of more than Rs one lakh crore to contractors and builders, which was due on March 31. Above all, the Shinde-Fadnavis government has assumed office illegally, by cheating."
Uddhav said it was true that he had suggested the Barsu site. "But I didn't recommend that teargas be used and villagers be lathicharged. I will meet the people of Barsu and talk to them," he said, adding that mango farmers in the Konkan must be given compensation as they had been hit by unseasonal rain.
He added, "You are flashing my letter recommending Barsu for the refinery site, but did I suggest giving away BKC's prime land for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train? What is the use of this train on this route? The BJP also sent the international financial centre to Gujarat, they want to impoverish Mumbai and Maharashtra. Because Mumbai gives the highest taxes to the Centre, they want to cut off Mumbai's purse strings."
On action being taken by the ED and the opposition's demand for a probe into allegations against the Adani Group, Uddhav said, "China is changing our geography but these people are wiping out history. Send ED and CBI to China and see what happens... You are sending ED even to the slums where Shiv Sainiks live. I say don't probe the Adani scam, but instead make Adani's autobiography part of the school syllabus, so that people also learn how to become rich like Adani." He also alleged the BJP wanted to "reduce" the importance of Balasaheb Thackeray.
MPCC president Nana Patole demanded an offence of murder be registered against the government for the death of 14 persons in Kharghar. Aaditya Thackeray described state government as one of "builders and contractors."