Narendra Modi heading Mumbai infra panel is an insult to state: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has taken strong exception to a move made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chair a committee on Mumbai's infrastructure projects.

Pawar, who recently underwent a hip joint replacement surgery, has written a six-page letter to Modi strongly arguing against accepting Fadnavis' request.

In his letter Pawar admits that Mumbai has suffered over the last few years, “due to many factors, local politics being one of them". However he adds, "If the problem has been created in the state, the solution cannot be found in Delhi."

Arguing further against Modi taking the responsibility of chairing such a committee, the NCP chief wrote in the letter, "The responsibility for governing and developing the state lies squarely with the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues. They can neither side-step their responsibilities, nor be untrue to the oath of office."

He further writes, "To suggest that there are no thinkers or planners or visionaries in Maharashtra to help the government solve its development issues, including the problem of its capital city, is to insult all of Maharashtra."

Pawar is also unhappy with Fadnavis for not even keeping his Cabinet informed of his decision to invite the PM to head such a committee.

The NCP leader questions why should the PM only look to chair a special committee on Mumbai and not for any other city or state. "As Prime Minister your responsibility is the whole country, so the question arises why only Mumbai, why not Chennai or Shillong or Delhi where you reside, why not the two new capital cities of the divided Andhra?... How can it be expected that you pay greater attention to the capital of one state alone?"

The NCP chief says that the move would mean 'superseding the authority of the states' and would go against the 'autonomy of the state'. Pawar has also reminded the PM about other serious things like "issues of terrorism, international relations, focusing on infrastructure" and asks Modi to 'guide' Fadnavis on "why setting up of this committee is impractical and undesirable. The chief minister of Maharashtra must shoulder his responsibilities".

Pawar has also marked a copy of the letter to other senior ministers in Modi's government like finance minister Arun Jaitley, home minister Rajnath Singh, minister of shipping and road transport Nitin Gadkari, railway minister Suresh Prabhu among others.