Despite state promise, citizens still can’t carry their own food inside multiplexes

HAS CM FADNAVIS BECOME ANOTHER ‘JUMLEBAAZ’ LIKE PM MODI?

The BJP-led Maharashtra government is usually seen boasting of its "performance" and "governance." The state's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in almost all his speeches is seen speaking of fulifilling all the promises his party made during the 2014 Assembly elections. Whenever one confronts any BJP leader with any unfulfilled promise, they instead trains their guns on its hardcore political rival — the Congress.

The CM recently made a "big" announcement for the state’s citizens and even gave a specific date to fulfil the promise. But his promise turned out to be just a "jumla" just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise of getting back black money and depositing Rs 15 lakh in each Indian's bank accounts.

The only difference between Fadnavis' jumla and that of Modi's is that the former made the announcement on the floor of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly while the latter did it at a political rally.

In his "high-pitched" speech in the recently concluded monsoon session in Nagpur, Fadnavis announced that every citizen will be allowed to carry their own food inside cinema halls across Maharashtra. He had also assured people that the "exorbitant" rates at which the food items are being sold inside multiplexes, presently, would be brought down.

Interestingly, Fadnavis in his speech, which was full of his government's achievements, had specifically said that every citizen would be allowed to carry their own food inside the cinema houses from August 1.

It is August 6 now and still there has been no change in ground reality. Citizens are still disallowed from carrying their own food to multiplexes and the franchises continue to sell food items at rates which have been set as per their whim and fancy.

The Congress is not surprised with this "jumla" of the Fadnavis government.

"We are not surprised at all since we are witnessing this since last four years. The government has failed on several counts including this now. They have breached the trust of the citizens," Congress leader Sachin Sawant said.

"We will consider taking out a motion on breach of privilege against CM Fadnavis. He is a big liar and must be prosecuted for breach of privilege. He is following the footsteps of PM Modi on jumlabazi," Sawant added.

The government is facing staunch opposition from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party over this issue. The MNS has resorted to its "style" of politics by vandalising multiplexes across the state.

On the failure of Fadnavis government in living upto its words, MNS party has already started attacking theatres now.

MNS leader Nitin Sardesai said, "This is yet another jumla of the government. The CM has fooled the citizens of the State."

"To protest the government's failure we have already started visiting multiplexes. We will ensure that a common man is given food at the normal price," Sardesai added.

Advocate Aditya Pratap, who spearheaded the campaign against the arbitrary prices of food item set by the multiplex owners, has said the CM failed to deliver his promise and has committed breach of privilege.

"The CM had made a public statement from the floor of the house but has failed to keep his promise. He had clearly said that people would be allowed to carry food from August 1 but the scenario is the same till now," Pratap said.

"The CM can be prosecuted for breach of privilege as he made the announcement on the floor of the house and not somewhere else. The government can not say that it is awaiting for orders from the Bombay High Court since the court has already put the responsibility on the government," Pratap added.

The PIL pertaining to the food rates in multiplexes is pending before the Bombay High Court and is likely to be taken up this week.