BJP has hidden agenda to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra: NCP

MUMBAI: The Nationalist Congress Party ( NCP) alleged here today that the BJP has a hidden agenda to separate the metropolis of Mumbai from the state of Maharashtra.

NCP spokesman Nawab Malik had also tweeted on December 7 that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to head a "civic authority" formed for the "development" of Mumbai city. This reveals the BJP's "hidden conspiracy" to make Mumbai city a Centre-ruled state and take it away from Maharashtra.

"However, the NCP will not tolerate this geographical polarisation and if necessary launch an agitation to keep Mumbai an integral part of Maharashtra," he said.

However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted that the idea behind the civic panel headed by Prime Minister Modi is to facilitate "co-ordination" between various central Ministries and the state to develop Mumbai, which India's financial capital into a "global commercial hub" by 2019.