Violation of no-birthday ad diktat irks CM Fadnavis

A week ago, CM Devendra Fadnavis issued an appeal against celebrating his birthday in view of the worst-ever agrarian crisis. He had asked his supporters to donate money towards the CM’s relief fund or irrigation projects instead of spending on newspaper advertisements, banners, hoardings and bouquets. Though the chief minister expected his first-ever appeal to be taken seriously as he himself had refrained from celebrations, he was stunned to see that a section of overenthusiastic supporters had issued advertisements in some dailies and put up larger-than-life size banners and hoardings in several parts of the city.A day later, Fadnavis personally tracked down the party workers who had breached his appeal. A cabinet member said Fadnavis has asked the state BJP leadership to issue a showcause notice to the workers. He is probably unaware of Mumbai’s banner culture used to showcase power. But Fadnavis is not the first politician to have issued such an appeal. His predecessors too had done so, but no one heeded to the appeals as they were taken to be symbolic.
Money Matters
Recently, a woman allegedly representing a financial institution called up finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and offered him a loan. The BJP leader, who has lately been scratching his head to think of ideas to secure loans for the debt-ridden state, told her that he was keen on securing a loan, but the amount would be huge. The woman readily agreed, saying that her organization will release any amount immediately. But she was taken aback when Munganitwar disclosed his identity and sought a loan of Rs 3.25 crore to tackle the state’s debt burden. On hearing this, the woman expressed regret, disconnected the call and switched off her cellphone. Ever since Mungantiwar has taken over the finance department’s reins, the state’s unprecedented resource crunch has had him worried. In 1999, when Jayant Patil was the finance minister, he had proposed measures to tackle the crunch and initiate steps to mobilize resources. But during the 15-year Congress-NCP rule, the finance department did not initiate any measures. A month ago, Mungantiwar too proposed measures to tackle the resource crunch. A bureaucrat said in the absence of stringent measures to halt uncalled for expenditure, Maharashtra has achieved the dubious distinction of leading the debt-ridden states.
Troubled times
Peace seems to be eluding controversial NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal; blame it on his own colleague this time. Over a decade after Bhujbal was in the dock for his alleged links with the mastermind of the multicrore stamp paper scam, Abdul Kareem Telgi, the case was again brought up in the legislative assembly during the ongoing monsoon session by a senior NCP leader. The stamp paper scam had seen investigating agencies grill Bhujbal and his nephew. While Bhujbal was not arrested, several IPS officials were held and lodged in police custody and later in the jail. Ultimately, Bhujbal was given a clean chit. An NCP leader said that former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has pulled up the party legislator for the scam reference in the assembly.