‘I blame Congress, MVA for playing politics’: Fadnavis
“We are trying to help the government. The central government is also trying to help. It has given them Rs 28,000 crore...,” Fadnavis said.
Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has denied accusations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to topple Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. In a telephone interview with Smriti Kak Ramachandran, Fadnavis spoke about the issue. Edited excerpts:
How would you react to a perception that the BJP is indulging in politics in the middle of a pandemic?
The BJP is not playing politics. [Congress leader] Rahul Gandhi gives statements everyday blaming the Centre government to hide the failures of his own government [in Maharashtra]... this is called politics. We are trying to help the government. The central government is also trying to help. It has given them Rs 28,000 crore... I blame the Congress and MVA government for playing politics because they have no control over the spread of the coronavirus and therefore, they want to set different narratives.
They do not want the focus on coronavirus because 37% of the positive cases are from Maharashtra and 41% of the deaths occurred here... There are no beds in hospitals, no ambulances, people are dying on the roads.
Does the BJP want the President’s rule?
...we have not demanded the President’s rule. The BJP does not want to form the government; this is not the right time. It is more important to fight the pandemic. We want to focus on helping the poor, farmers and use all our energy to help people. I do not think this is the time when we should think of changing the government...
Could you elaborate on your statement that the government will fall because of its internal contradictions?
...three parties coming together is in itself a contradiction. The ideological view of the Shiva Sena has been diametrically opposite to that of Congress and the NCP [Nationalist Congress Party]. Sharad Pawar [NCP chief] had many times manufactured factions in the Sena. Just for the sake of forming a government, they have come together. But the ideological and cultural differences will not allow them to cope with each other.
Has the BJP, with 105 MLAs in the assembly reached out to the state government to offer any suggestions? Or is there a complete breakdown in talks?
We have been insisting that the chief minister should call an all party meeting. Even the Prime Minister has held two so far. For two months there was no meeting. Finally,one meeting, where the CM joined through video conferencing was called and we gave constructive suggestions on how to plan the exit strategy from the lockdown, on how to revive the economy, and how to create more health infrastructure.
We also talked about the plight of the farmers during the lockdown and how their Kharif crop should be procured. The CM had assured us, but did nothing. I spoke to him on the phone and regularly write letters, but I don’t see any response. However, I will keep on writing and giving suggestions. It is the duty of the ruling party to take everyone along, but in Maharashtra they are not able to even taken along their partners much less the opposition.
You said the MVA government is not decisive and is scared of taking decisions. Is this a comment against the CM or the entire MVA?
During such times you require a very assertive political leadership that needs to lead from the front. You have to take bold decisions, there will be times when your decisions will be criticised, but if you feel those are in the interest of the state then you should not be afraid of taking bold decisions.
In Maharashtra you can see that entire state is run by bureaucracy. Everybody is acting on their own. In such a situation, it is only the political leadership that can bring cohesiveness in the government so that it can function in the right way. Ultimately it is the entire government, but the primary responsibility is of the chief minister.
Last week you said the Maharashtra government does not even have a plan for reviving economic activity. What are the other areas where you think the government has failed?
A I had suggested to the CM that if we want to restart the economy-- and it is the right time to do so-- we form a team of stakeholders in every sector and also include people from the health sector to form protocols to restart businesses and industry.
Let them come to a conclusion on how much can be restarted. Although lockdown is necessary, it cannot be a permanent policy of the government; it is a measure to control the pandemic, the policy of the government should be an exit policy. Wherever possible we have to save and create jobs because it will have a bigger toll on our economy and Maharashtra being an economically progressive state, will be more affected.
Looking back do think the power sharing negotiations with the Sena could have been handled better?
That is now in the past. There is no value of ifs and buts in politics. We have to now face the reality that we are the opposition and we want to play the role of a constructive opposition.
