The monsoon chaos appears to have sparked a political tussle in Maharashtra after the government faced a severe backlash over the temporary closure of the missing link between Mumbai and Pune amid heavy rains.
While the opposition parties were questioning the government over the quality of infrastructure projects as the key ‘missing link’, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused critics of spreading ‘falsehood’.
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Those who defame Maharashtra and spread misinformation on social media through hired trolls will not be spared, Fadnavis warned on Wednesday.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray responded to Fadnavis’s response and asked how asking questions about projects like Missing Link insults Maharashtra.
Speaking at an event organized by his party’s railway union MNS Rail Sena, Thackeray also asked about politics when people ask questions about infrastructure projects.
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“What were you (BJP) doing when others were in power? How can anyone insult Maharashtra when they talk about the missing link? Criticizing the government does not mean criticizing Maharashtra… If you say anything against the Centre, it (is called) anti-national,” Thackeray said.
He added that it was the BJP that started targeting its opponents on online platforms, but now it is backfiring.
The BJP-led Maharashtra government has come under fire after the newly constructed Missing Link section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was briefly closed earlier this week following a landslide outside one of its tunnels.
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He also trained arms in the BJP over the alleged donation irregularities at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Asking questions about theft is not an insult to religion, he said, adding that of the 15 secretaries, 12 were appointed by the Center and were associated with the RSS, VHP and BJP.
“We also believe in Ram Mandir. But when Rs 1,400 crore disappears there, shouldn’t we talk? Well, when we talk, they will say, why don’t you talk about the Endowment Board. What do we have to do with what is happening in the Endowment Board? If we talk about misappropriation of funds given sincerely by Hindu devotees in this country, will you brand us as anti-religious?” he said.
The Fadnavis government also faced criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut who criticized his recent confrontational stance regarding the ‘missing link’ infrastructure project.
Acting on Fadnavis’s warning, Raut questioned the governance atmosphere in Maharashtra and asked whether a ‘state of emergency’ had been imposed in Maharashtra and alleged that corruption, looting and intimidation have become the hallmarks of the present administration.
“Failure, arrogance, arrogance, etc… All of this will end in an instant! Maharashtra needs an educated Chief Minister! But what can one do? The mine is just dust! Did Devendra Fadnavis impose a state of emergency in Maharashtra? Government-sponsored corruption, looting, mob rule – this very emergency is one where people are not allowed to speak out!” Raut said in a post on X.
Why did Fadnavis’ remark elicit such strong reactions?
On Wednesday, Fadnavis made remarks in the Assembly that elicited strong reactions from the Opposition.
A video of his speech was shared by Raut where Fadnavis said: “Hamare Jayantrao ji ne sahi baat kahi, jinko kutta nahin ponchta, woh aajkal social media par aakar sabko gaali dete han, mukhyamantri ko bhi gaali dete han. Aise kuch bhaade ke tattu, iss missing link ke baare mein.” bhi paisa le-laker social media par likh rahe the, unko bhi keh dena chahta hun, agar Maharashtra ka apmaan karoge, chhodoonga nahin.” (Jayantrao ji said the right thing. Those who even dogs don’t notice it are coming to social media these days and abusing everyone, even the PM. Some of these hired trolls were also writing about this ‘missing link’ on social media after taking the money. I want to tell them too, if you insult Maharashtra, I won’t save you.)
The row erupted after heavy rains triggered landslides in the Mumbai-Pune Ghat section earlier this week, disrupting rail and road connectivity. The landslide near the Missing Link Tunnel suspended traffic on the Mumbai-bound route, while several train services were canceled or diverted as restoration work continued amid incessant rains.
