Anurag Thakur targets Uddhav's Sena: 'BMC has highest tax collection but...'

Mumbai's civic body - the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation - is one the richest civic bodies in the country.

Published on: Sep 18, 2022, 16:31:46 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Swati Bhasin, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday trained his guns on Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena as he questioned the functioning of Mumbai’s civic body - the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or the BMC. Thakur, who is the union sports minister, said the civic body was not doing enough to encourage sports.

Union minister Anurag Thakur trained guns on the Uddhav Thackeray party. (HT File Photo/Amal KS)

“The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has the highest tax collection, and budget... still, they're unable to focus on proper sanitation, beautification of the city, and encouraging sports,” Thakur was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. “A proper road map is in preparation to initiate such policies,” he added.

The targeting of the BMC by the minister in his remarks comes months after Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed in Maharashtra following the rebellion of Eknath Shinde, who had joined forces with the BJP.

Last month, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced multiple investigations, including one by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) into alleged financial irregularities and corruption linked to the civic body. “There are some specific complaints which are of such a nature that they require a special audit by CAG. The money of the people was siphoned off and the chief minister has directed to conduct a special audit through CAG,” Fadnavis had said in the state assembly, HT had reported.

The BMC - one of the richest civic bodies in the country - has been ruled by the Shiv Sena for nearly three decades.

An investigation by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) into the delimitation of BMC wards - that was announced by former CM Uddhav Thackeray in November 2021 - was also ordered by CM Shinde after he took charge. The delimitation move, the BJP claimed, aimed to give an electoral advantage to Uddhav Thackeray's party.

(With inputs from ANI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.