Cong distances itself from Antulay's comments on Raigad swap

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today sought to distance itself from remarks made by former chief minister and senior leader A R Antulay on the party's decision to swap Raigad parliamentary seat with the NCP.

"He (Antulay) is a senior leader and his public comments have been conveyed to the central leadership," MPCC spokesman Sachin Sawant said, adding the remarks were "personal view" of Antulay.

Antulay had disapproved of the party's decision to swap the constituency nurtured by him.

"In the evening of my life, I have to see my home being given away to someone else. After delimitation, Raigad district was divided into Mawal and Raigad parliamentary constituencies and the Congress has given away both to the NCP," he had told PTI.

Yesterday, MPCC president Manikrao Thakre said efforts will be made to placate Antulay.

Meanwhile, Sawant criticised Gujarat government for sending a notice of recovery of Rs 22.50 crore to Mahananda dairy through Mehsana, a cattle feed production unit.

"This shows the Gujarat government's narrow minded attitude towards helping a neighbouring (state) battling with natural calamity. In 2013, when Maharashtra was facing drought, it sought help of Mehsana to send cattle feed.

"The Gujarat government filed an FIR against Mehsana for providing help to Mahananda and Mehsana in turn sent a notice to Mahananda to recover the amount," Sawant said.

He said Maharashtra government should intervene in the matter and reimburse the amount to Mehsana.