Congress dubs Centre's Smart City project as 'unconstitutional'

MUMBAI: Joining the league of parties opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet Smart City project, Congress today dubbed the 'Smart City' project as "unconstitutional" and said he funds allocated by Centre are for schemes which are already in progress and are being executed by the local bodies.

Senior party leader Narayan Rane slammed the state government for its "inability" to take decisions for the welfare of people in the past one year since it came to power.

"During 1980s, (former Prime Minister) Rajiv Gandhi's government had made certain Amendments in the Constitution, according to which only municipal corporations and local bodies can take decisions on development works. The 'Smart Cities' concept does not fit into the parameters of the Constitution," Rane said while addressing reporters here.

"This project, is thus unconstitutional and cannot be allowed to be implemented. How can private bodies bypass an elected body and take decisions on redevelopment? On top of all this, the insufficient money provided by the Centre is for those projects, the work of which is already going on and being executed by local bodies," he said.

Earlier, Shiv Sena and the MNS had opposed the project, terming it as "illegal", which according to them is a ploy to centrally control cities like Mumbai.

Rane also alleged that the BJP-led government has kept most questions raised by the opposition on various issues unanswered.

Speaking on the drought situation, Rane claimed that none of the funds, allocated by the Centre for drought relief will actually benefit farmers.

"This money will be used by the government for various purposes like waiving off school fees of children and payment of electricity bills of farmers. The government anyway has to do all these works when it declares drought," he said.

The former chief minister also said BJP's ally Shiv Sena is "aware that Fadnavis is only a man of words and not action", but cannot do much about it due to the "compromise" it has done with the BJP on several issues.

"This has now reduced the Sena into a party that needs to compromise on issues to stay afloat. It has no relation with 'Hindutva' and 'Marathi manoos' anymore," he said.