Fadnavis alleges corruption in COVID containment measures

Despite strong denial by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday in the state assembly alleged corruption in the Covid-19 containment measures taken by the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state. In his speech during a debate on the Governor’s address, Fadnavis claimed that a racket recently came to light in Amravati district in Vidarbha region wherein a person was declared infected by coronavirus despite testing COVID-19 negative. "In Navi Mumbai, 7,800 individuals were shown COVID-19 positive without conducting any tests," he alleged. He referred to a Central survey and said the number of COVID-19 deaths in Maharashtra could have been lesser by 30,900 and the cases by 9.55 lakh had the state government handled the situation properly.

On the suicide of a 23-year-old Tik Tok star, Fadnavis asked why an FIR was not lodged while accusing the government of pressuring the police. BJP had targeted former minister and Shiv Sena legislator Sanjay Rathod for his alleged links with the 23-yearold woman. Subsequently, Rathod resigned from the state cabinet. Fadnavis also demanded the suspension of a police inspector who is investigating the case. He claimed that the law and order situation was not worth talking. Moreover, Fadnavis slammed the state government on the Aarey metro car shed issue saying that the government should not delay the project and should not do injustice to the people of Mumbai. He also criticised the state government’s stubbornness not to extend the statutory development boards’ tenure and said that it will adversely affect Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, he added. He said that during the earlier government’s tenure, the state was leading in FDI in the country. Today, Maharashtra does not feature in the 15 top states.