Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday denied allegations that the Centre had shown a preference in the clearance of the Metro Rail in Nagpur over Pune, which is a stronghold of the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
“There is no politics behind the clearances to the projects. We had asked the State government for clarifications on the proposal for the Pune Metro but did not receive a response. We sent them several reminders through May to July. Finally we got an email from them only two days ago,” Mr. Naidu said, laying the blame at the door of the Congress-NCP Government.
Mr. Naidu was responding to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan’s allegations of bias. Both the Nagpur and Pune Metro projects were approved by the Centre in February. However, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Nagpur Metro on Thursday, clearances for the Pune Metro are still pending.
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“There should be no discrimination between a leader’s constituency and the rest of the State,” Mr. Chavan had said on Wednesday in an obvious reference to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari who is an MP from Nagpur.
Naidu to attend Mumbai Metro bhoomipoojan
Mr. Naidu announced that he would attend the bhoomipoojan of the third phase of the Mumbai Metro on August 26, despite Mr. Chavan’s decision to boycott the Nagpur function. “I have accepted the invitation of the Chief Minister. They did not invite me when the first phase of the Mumbai Metro was launched but I did not hold it against them,” he said. The third phase of the Mumbai Metro will run from Colaba through Bandra to Seepz.
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Jeering at CM not planned
Meanwhile, in a reference to the disruption of Mr. Chavan’s speech in Solapur when he shared the stage with the Prime Minister, Mr. Naidu said, “The hooting of the crowd was not right but it was not done in an organised manner. It was the reaction of the crowd.” He said Mr. Chavan should “show maturity” and not boycott events with Mr. Modi.