The Shiv Sena on Friday demanded the State government to open the State Cabinet meeting for journalists, the Lokayukta and Leaders of the Opposition (LOPs)to bring transparency in its functioning.
The demand is seen as a reply by the Sena to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s insistence on bringing transparency in the functioning of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Senior Sena leader and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Minister Eknath Shinde raised the demand with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during a State Cabinet meeting on Friday and insisted that the party would support an amendment to the Constitution if required.
Mr. Shinde said, “We want transparency in the functioning of the State cabinet as well. It would help a great deal if Cabinet meetings are made open for journalists, the Lokayukta and Leaders of the Opposition. There would be no problem if the discussions are held in the open. It will only increase transparency which is good for the State.”
Mr. Shinde’s demand was echoed by Transport Minister Diwakar Raote and Health Minister Deepak Sawant, who said that the step would help in bringing transparency. The Ministers said that if BMC can allow journalists in the Standing Committee and General Body meetings, it should not be a problem for the State government to do the same for Cabinet meetings.
Mr. Shinde further said that Maharashtra has been in the forefront for introducing innovative and socially important schemes such as the Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Service Act. Keeping Cabinet meetings open would pave the way for other States to follow suit.
Mr. Shinde said, “If there is a need to bring a constitutional amendment to implement the proposal, we are ready to support the move. Let’s be the pioneer and show the country a transparent path of development.”
During the recently held civic polls, the BJP had raked up as a serious issue the lack of transparency in the Sena-ruled BMC’s functioning. Mr Fadnavis had attacked the civic body for being non-transparent. Though the party had never explained what it meant by bringing transparency, it used it widely during the campaign.
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in his election campaign rallies had asked the BJP to open the Cabinet meetings for the journalists and LOPs. The party’s Ministers reiterated the demand on Friday. The issue is likely to come up for debate in the budget session of the State legislature, which is scheduled to begin on June 6.
