Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 10: The controversy surrounding the alleged omission of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from a recent event at the Navi Mumbai International Airport echoed in the state Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, with ministers from the Shiv Sena led by Shinde demanding action against officials responsible for the lapse.
According to sources, Sena ministers raised the issue before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and questioned how Shinde, who also serves as the guardian minister of Thane district, was allegedly not invited to the unveiling of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the airport on Saturday.
The ministers reportedly sought action against officials of CIDCO, the state Protocol Department and airport authorities, claiming that the Deputy Chief Minister had been excluded from the programme.
Sources said Fadnavis informed the Cabinet that he too had questioned the absence of both deputy chief ministers at the event. He reportedly told ministers that before leaving for the programme, he had enquired about Shinde’s arrival.
The Chief Minister is learnt to have assured ministers that the matter was being taken seriously and that an inquiry would be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Sources further said that the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) had sought an explanation from Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL) and CIDCO regarding the alleged failure to invite Shinde.
According to information shared with the CMO, NMIAL stated that the event was a private programme and assured the government that similar issues would be avoided in future.
The controversy erupted after Fadnavis unveiled a 12-foot bronze bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Terminal 1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport on Saturday. The event was attended by Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, local legislators and senior officials.
Shinde’s absence from the function sparked a political row, with leaders of the Shinde-led Sena alleging that the Deputy Chief Minister had not been invited despite the event being held in Thane district under his charge as guardian minister.