Opposition failed to make impact during session: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra CM said Congress-NCP led opposition was divided, directionless and had no strategy

The Congress-NCP led opposition was divided, directionless and had no strategy during the winter session of the legislature which ended on Wednesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here.

His government adopted a practical approach to deal with various issues, said Fadnavis, who became the first BJP Chief Minister of Maharashtra in October this year. The previous (Congress-NCP) government had announced a Rs 8,000 crore package for the farmers in the last five years, while the BJP-Shiv Sena government declared a Rs 7,000 crore package in its very first year, he said at a press conference. The government was initiating long-term measures to tackle the agrarian crisis.

On the issue of reservations for Muslims, Fadnavis said though the ordinance on the same was about to lapse, there was still time for the new academic year to start. The government would seek opinion of the Advocate General and will take action without undue haste as a constitutional issue was involved, he added.

The Assembly yesterday passed a bill providing quota in jobs and education to Marathas, but it omitted Muslims. The Chief Minister, who also holds the home portfolio, said his office had cleared files related to investigation by the anti-corruption bureau against officials in 22 cases and now no ACB case was pending for his approval.

On the opposition's demand of a special five-day session to discuss the Vijay Kelkar committee report on balanced development of various regions, he said Congress-NCP shouldn't talk about the report, which was gathering dust when they were in power. However, he said, action taken report will be tabled during the budget session in March.