Raj Thackeray asks CM Devendra Fadnavis: How is Maharashtra insulted when Missing Link is criticised?

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Thursday took aim at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, questioning why raising concerns over the quality of infrastructure projects such as the Missing Link is being portrayed as an insult to Maharashtra.Speaking at an event organised by the MNS Rail Sena, the party's railway union, Thackeray also questioned why seeking accountability and asking questions about infrastructure projects is being labelled as politics."What were you (BJP) doing when others were in power? How is anyone insulting Maharashtra when they talk of the Missing Link? Castigating the government does not mean criticising Maharashtra....If you say anything against the Centre, then it is (dubbed as) anti-national," Thackeray said.Thackeray alleged that the BJP had initiated the trend of targeting its political opponents on online platforms, but said the strategy was now backfiring on the party.His remarks came after the newly inaugurated Missing Link section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was briefly closed earlier this week following a landslide near one of its tunnels. The incident drew criticism of the BJP-led Maharashtra government over the quality and safety of the infrastructure project.

Replying to a discussion in the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday, Devendra Fadnavis accused critics of the Missing Link project of spreading misinformation through television and social media, alleging that hired trolls were being used to defame the state. He warned that those tarnishing Maharashtra's image by circulating false information would face action.Responding to the remarks, MNS chief Raj Thackeray claimed that contractors executing government projects were allegedly forced to pay a 54% commission.Thackeray also criticised the BJP over the alleged donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying that questioning the alleged irregularities did not amount to insulting the religion. He claimed that 12 of the temple's 15 trustees were appointed by the Centre and were associated with the RSS, VHP and BJP.He further asked how the BJP would have reacted had a different party been in power when the alleged theft came to light.(Witrh agency inputs)