MNS chief Raj Thackeray criticises Shiv Sena for opposing Jaitapur nuclear plant

MUMBAI: MNS chief Raj Thackeray today criticised Shiv Sena for opposing the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power project in Maharashtra and slammed the BJP-led government for relaxing the norm for screening of Marathi films in multiplexes.
Without naming Shiv Sena, which is critical of the mega project in Konkan region, he said those opposing the nuclear plant should spell out reasons for it.

"I am not an expert on nuclear power. Those opposing the Jaitapur nuclear power project should be asked reasons behind the opposition. People have forgotten that there is Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai. This too has a nuclear reactor," Thackeray told reporters, when asked to comment on Sena's opposition to Jaitapur nuclear power plant.

The Jaitapur project in Ratnagiri district, where French company Areva is to set up six nuclear reactors with total power generation capacity of about 10,000 MW, is stuck for long following protests and differences over the cost of electricity to be generated.

According to Shiv Sena, the energy produced from the project will be beneficial for the whole country, but Maharashtra would be at the maximum risk.

Hitting out at the state government for relaxing the time-slot for screening of Marathi movies, Thackeray said the government should have strongly pitched in for Marathi cinema.

"The government first allots a prime time slot to Marathi movies and then relaxes it after talking to multiplex owners. Why this sudden change of stand? Multiplex owners should have alloted one screen specifically for Marathi movies. But will the state government ask multiplex owners to follow this? The state government should have taken a firm stand and pitched in for Marathi cinema," Thackeray said.

The BJP-led government earlier this month came out with a directive that multiplexes must screen at least one Marathi film in the prime-time slot of 6 to 9 PM.

Later, after discussions with the multiplex owners, the government decided to redefine the prime-time for screening Marathi films and to consider three slots -- 12 to 3 PM, 3 to 6 PM and 6 to 9 PM -- for the shows. PTI MM GK DBS 04211735 NNNN

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Poli

Land ordinance to be biggest trigger for PM's downfall: Cong



Jammu, Apr 21 (PTI) Asserting that the Narendra Modi-led central government cannot displease majority population of the farmers to please a handful of corporates, J&K Congress today said the land ordinance will prove to be the biggest trigger for the prime minister's down fall.

"Land ordinance will be the biggest trigger for Modi's downfall. You cannot displease 67 per cent of the population who are farmers to please a handful of corporates who PM is beholden to," Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and former minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said today.

Jora said, "the corporate houses, some of whom own big media houses, helped catapult Modi in the Prime Minister's chair 10 months ago. The media blitzkrieg and the lavish campaign that BJP launched were all thanks to these corporate friends."

"Since it is pay back time, prime minister cannot but bring the land ordinances - one after another. His friends are demanding their pound of flesh. Otherwise, how does one explain the need for ordinance without operationalising the 2013 Right to Fair Compensation & Rehabilitation Act", he said.

Jora said this Act, which was the collective effort of all the political parties, was enacted after thorough discussion in the parliament.

"The amendments proposed by BJP were accepted; the bill went through all the legislative processes including scrutiny and due diligence of the select committee. Then, what necessitated an ordinance," he asked.

"Doing away with the 80 per cent consent clause, doing away with the social impact assessment clause, eschewing the land back to the farmers in case work doesn't start, masquerading commercial hospitals and educational institution in the social infrastructure; doing away with punitive measures for officials acts of omission and commission many other similar key features of the UPA Act cannot but be seen as favouring the corporates".