Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray completed a year in office as head of a Maharashtra government Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Friday. It has been a torrid year, with political attacks from its longtime ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, a health crisis in the form of Covid, which put Maharashtra on a low level, and bad relations with the Center. On Friday Thackeray, 60, spoke with reporters on a variety of topics. Edited excerpts:
On state BJP predictions that its government will fall
Keep predicting; they are busy and happy. I don’t want to spoil that. The time in which we are running the government is different (because of the pandemic). The world has faced such a situation after a century. Whoever ran the government before faced no such difficulties.
About the cooperation of the Center
Although the party or ideology of the people who run the government is important, it is the duty of the government, whether in the Center or in the state, to work impartially. Starting in September, the Center stopped supplying things like PPE kits and N-95 masks. This led to an increase in the financial burden of the state by around Rs 250-300 crore. Also, GST and tax refund fees of around Rs 38,000 crore are still pending at the Center. We also do not receive any cooperation in managing natural calamities such as Cyclone Nisarga, the floods in Vidarbha and the incessant rains.
In a Covid vaccine
We need a plan, since there are five companies that make vaccines. At what temperature should it be stored? How many doses are required? So far there is no clarity on anything.
In GST
When GST came, we raised some of the issues through BMC. Mumbai, for example, has a special status in terms of the tax scale it generates. Therefore, Mumbai should receive additional help to further develop the city. If there are any loopholes in GST, it should be fixed to be foolproof. If this is not possible, then the old tax regime should be restored. If by centralizing something, justice is not done to all (states), then what is the use of doing it?
On state finances
During the budget session (in 2019), Covid-19 began to spread in the state, so we had to reduce it (the session). While everything was closed, the government of Maharashtra signed memoranda of understanding worth 50 billion rupees. We have decided to target an investment worth ₹ 1 lakh crore in one year. It is important to note that although the wheels [of economic activities] slowed down, they haven’t stopped. We will see the fruits of our efforts in the coming days.
On the achievements of his government
We started with a decision on the development of the Raigad district and allocated funds for this. Another big decision was a farm loan exemption of up to Rs 2 lakh crore. Whatever promises we made, we’ve almost kept them all. The farm loan exemption was a great decision. We do not make announcements of doubling and tripling farmers’ income nor do we say acche din aayenge.
On leading a government instead of remote control
Operating the government via remote control is a separate matter. There are three parties here and the government works as a coalition.
On reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is upset with him because his intervention to help Thackeray become a member of the legislative council has not been recognized
Such discussions are useless. I don’t want to waste time on those issues.
In a fight with the governor who has yet to approve the nomination of 12 candidates to the upper house of the state legislature
We had asked him to do it as soon as possible. Like the reopening of temples (the governor had written to Thackeray about this), we hope that he too will make quick decisions on these issues related to democracy.
Being seen as taking on BJP and Modi
No, that is never my intention. I work with passion and speak about topics with passion. I never make personal attacks or speak with bad intentions. As if they had attacked my family with revenge… When we were with them we were good to them, we used to campaign for them without which their ballot boxes would not fill. Now see the way they are attacking our family and the perverted tendency of their politics. I have not lowered myself to their level and I have attacked them.
On his relationship with Devendra Fadnavis, who called Thackeray his older brother before the election last year.
That time you (Fadnavis) didn’t see your brother’s janam kundali? Now did you realize? We also have your kundalis.
On Relief For People From Inflated Electricity Bills
First of all, using the word inflated invoice is wrong because during blocking [physical] no meter readings were taken. An average bill for three months was sent to consumers. Everyone thought the average bill that came in was high, including me. I mean here that there was no rate increase. Wherever there are complaints it is being checked and I am told that once the meters are checked people understand that this is an average bill based on their [past] use. Even then, if people have complaints, they are being taken care of. Don’t mislead people by using the word “inflated.” The outstanding recoveries are worth Rs 60 billion. We are not getting much help from the Center, our dues are not coming from the Center and we are facing a financial crisis..
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