Vijayapura: Putting an end to the speculations on the possible change of guard in Maharashtra Government, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has categorically stated that Ekanath Shinde will remain Chief Minister of Maharashtra till the end of the Government’s tenure.
“Let me make it very clear, Ekanath Shinde will remain CM till the next Assembly election, will fight polls under his leadership and will also win,” he announced.
Addressing mediapersons before heading to Babaleshwar Assembly constituency to campaign for the BJP candidate, Vijugouda Patil on Wednesday April 26, he said that whatever is being said about the possible change of guard is only a media creation.
Asked why the Maharashtra Government often rakes up the issue of Belagavi even when Mahajan Committee Report has declared that Belagavi is part of Karnataka, Fadnavi refused to reply, stating that the matter is before the Apex Court.
He said that since the issue is subjudice, it is better not to comment on it, however he said that the Belagavi issue has been prevailing since long and has not cropped up yesterday.
On the allegations of the Maharashtra Government deliberately implementing its health scheme in bordering villages of Karnataka in order to claim they belong to the State of Maharashtra, Former Chief Minister said that the BJP Government has not issued any new order.
“We have made it amply clear that the order related to implementing the health scheme was done during the previous Congress Government and not by our Government. We have also shown relevant documents in this regard,” he said.
On the allegations of the Kannadigas living in bordering villages of Karnataka that the Maharashtra Government is being biased with them, Fadnavi refuted the allegations, stating that the Government is giving required facilities.
Earlier, he defended Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s Government decision to scrap 4 % reservation given to the Muslims.
He said that since the Constitution does not allow reservation on the bases of religion, the BJP Government has removed to correct the mistake committed by the Congress Government.
“The Supreme Court has struck down the efforts of any State government which tried to give reservation to Muslims. Therefore whatever is done by the BJP Government is correct”, he said and exuded confidence of winning the case as the matter has now gone to the Supreme Court.
On the allegations of BJP Government of Karnataka collecting 40% commission from the contractors to clear the bills, the veteran BJP leader said that the Congress has the habit of making baseless and proof-less evidence against the BJP.
The Congress has not produced a single proof to corroborate its allegations. Since the Congress is frustrated, it is making such baseless allegations, he said.
