Mumbai: Opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi on Wednesday boycotted Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's tea party on the eve of the monsoon session of the state legislature, accusing the government of failing to address the problems of the masses, including farmers.
This announcement was made by the leader of the opposition in the assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, who belongs to the Congress, and his counterpart in the council, Ambadas Danve, of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The customary tea party, held before each legislative session, is scheduled for later Wednesday.
During the session, which will be held in Mumbai from June 27 to July 12, the ruling Mahayuti alliance will present the state budget in both Houses of the legislature on June 28.
The interim budget was presented in February, before the Lok Sabha elections.
"The opposition parties have decided to boycott the tea party in protest against the tripartite government's excessive indulgence in corrupt practices. They have ignored the plight of farmers and swindled taxpayers' money by unnaturally increasing taxes. costs of various projects," Wadettiwar said.
Apart from Wadettiwar and his Congress Party colleague Balasaheb Thorat, NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad and Danve, leaders of smaller parties put on a united show by attending the press conference.
Wadettiwar alleged possible cost escalation in the procurement of smart electricity meters and purchase of ambulances.
"The actual cost of a smart electricity meter is Rs 2,900 per unit, and the installation charges are around Rs 350. However, the state government has planned to purchase a meter at a whopping Rs 12,500 per unit, and the contract has been granted to Adani,” he alleged.
The new tender for the acquisition of ambulances is another example of high acquisition costs. The cost of purchasing new ambulances is Rs 3,000 crore, but the state government has floated a tender worth Rs 10,000 crore, Wadettiwar said.
He further alleged that the state government had depleted the deposits of the Mumbai civic body by Rs 12,000 crore.
The Congress leader also alleged that the government has informally allotted offices to middlemen on each floor of Mantralaya, the state secretariat.
"This illegitimate and illegal government has informally given offices to middlemen on every floor of the Mantralaya, and they are swindling taxpayers' money," he alleged.
The commission for approving a project has increased to 40 per cent during this government, which is testimony to high corruption, Wadettiwar added.
He also took aim at the state government for "neglecting" farmers and not addressing their problems.
"The cost of fertilizers, seeds and pesticides has increased due to their classification in the upper slab of GST. On the other hand, the GST on the purchase of a helicopter is barely five per cent, while for diamonds and gold is 3 per cent, two per cent on gold. This is akin to backstabbing farmers,” the Congress MLA alleged.
He claimed that CM Shinde has failed to increase the minimum support price for farmers despite repetitive demands.
"The procurement price of cotton has increased by only seven per cent, while lentils or tur have seen an increase of eight per cent, jowar has seen an increase of six per cent and maize by 6.5 per cent. In 2013, soybeans were sold at "4,600 rupees per quintal. In 2024 too, farmers will receive the same rate for soybean, indicating the failure of the state government to address farmers' problems," Wadettiwar said.
This announcement was made by the leader of the opposition in the assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, who belongs to the Congress, and his counterpart in the council, Ambadas Danve, of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The customary tea party, held before each legislative session, is scheduled for later Wednesday.
During the session, which will be held in Mumbai from June 27 to July 12, the ruling Mahayuti alliance will present the state budget in both Houses of the legislature on June 28.
The interim budget was presented in February, before the Lok Sabha elections.
"The opposition parties have decided to boycott the tea party in protest against the tripartite government's excessive indulgence in corrupt practices. They have ignored the plight of farmers and swindled taxpayers' money by unnaturally increasing taxes. costs of various projects," Wadettiwar said.
Apart from Wadettiwar and his Congress Party colleague Balasaheb Thorat, NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad and Danve, leaders of smaller parties put on a united show by attending the press conference.
Wadettiwar alleged possible cost escalation in the procurement of smart electricity meters and purchase of ambulances.
"The actual cost of a smart electricity meter is Rs 2,900 per unit, and the installation charges are around Rs 350. However, the state government has planned to purchase a meter at a whopping Rs 12,500 per unit, and the contract has been granted to Adani,” he alleged.
The new tender for the acquisition of ambulances is another example of high acquisition costs. The cost of purchasing new ambulances is Rs 3,000 crore, but the state government has floated a tender worth Rs 10,000 crore, Wadettiwar said.
He further alleged that the state government had depleted the deposits of the Mumbai civic body by Rs 12,000 crore.
The Congress leader also alleged that the government has informally allotted offices to middlemen on each floor of Mantralaya, the state secretariat.
"This illegitimate and illegal government has informally given offices to middlemen on every floor of the Mantralaya, and they are swindling taxpayers' money," he alleged.
The commission for approving a project has increased to 40 per cent during this government, which is testimony to high corruption, Wadettiwar added.
He also took aim at the state government for "neglecting" farmers and not addressing their problems.
"The cost of fertilizers, seeds and pesticides has increased due to their classification in the upper slab of GST. On the other hand, the GST on the purchase of a helicopter is barely five per cent, while for diamonds and gold is 3 per cent, two per cent on gold. This is akin to backstabbing farmers,” the Congress MLA alleged.
He claimed that CM Shinde has failed to increase the minimum support price for farmers despite repetitive demands.
"The procurement price of cotton has increased by only seven per cent, while lentils or tur have seen an increase of eight per cent, jowar has seen an increase of six per cent and maize by 6.5 per cent. In 2013, soybeans were sold at "4,600 rupees per quintal. In 2024 too, farmers will receive the same rate for soybean, indicating the failure of the state government to address farmers' problems," Wadettiwar said.
