Unbecoming of Chief Minister to threaten government's critics: Congress leader Sapkal

Mumbai, Jul 10 (PTI) Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Friday accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of threatening those who criticised the state government, saying it did not befit a person in his position. Addressing a press conference, Sapkal said citizens and the opposition have every right to question the use of public money. Fadnavis on Wednesday aggressively defended the Mumbai-Pune Expressway 'Missing Link' project after facing flak over a landslide near its tunnel, accusing the critics of spreading lies through hired trolls on social media and warned that those defaming Maharashtra with misinformation would not be spared. "It does not behove the chief minister and home minister of a state to threaten those who raise questions by calling them hired stooges or saying 'I will deal with you'. You are not Maharashtra," the Congress leader said. Using terms such as "dogs" and "hired stooges" was unbecoming of the chief minister of a state known for its civilised political culture, Sapkal said, claiming that Fadnavis reacted angrily after the Congress highlighted corruption in the Missing Link project. Infrastructure projects are funded by taxpayers' money and the opposition is entitled to seek accountability if there were allegations of irregularities, Sapkal said. The Congress leader also alleged that the chief minister had made misleading claims on issues such as the Missing Link project, Samruddhi Expressway, reservation, and the Ladki Bahin scheme, and dared him to undergo a narcoanalysis test along with him. Sapkal also accused the BJP-led government of spreading misinformation about a possible cloudburst in Nashik to thwart the Congress' planned agitation in the city over the donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. On the farm loan waiver announced by the Mahayuti government, Sapkal claimed that it was yet to be implemented. "Farmers are unhappy and the BJP-Mahayuti government has failed to address their concerns," he said. PTI MR KRK