Leave Mumbai development to CM, state govt: Pawar to Modi

The NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not head the proposed high-level committee for the development of Mumbai.

The NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not head the proposed high-level committee for the development of Mumbai.

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"You are a strong proponent of good governance, Mr Prime Minister. May I request you in the name of good governance not to accept this responsibility for the development of Mumbai and to place it squarely where it belongs: on the shoulders of the CM, the government and people of Maharashtra," Pawar said in a letter to Modi.

"There are certain issues between Maharashtra and Gujarat on which both the states differ in opinions and interests. In such a situation, any proposal suggested by CM of Maharashtra will create misunderstanding between people of the two states. I will be the last person who will be happy to see this," Pawar said.

"The issue being of such an importance, concerning federal nature of the Republic of India, I am sharing my views and contents of this letter with some important political leaders and thinkers of Maharashtra," Pawar added.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had recently said that there was an urgent need for effective coordination between state and central agencies for the development of the megapolis, and for which "it will be appropriate to set up a Mumbai development committee headed by the PM".