We will challenge entertainers, push for power charge waiver: Maharashtra Congress boss

In an interview with the National daily, newly-appointed Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole saif that the state's own agricultural legislation wants to avoid inflationary electricity bills, provide free generic electricity to small consumers and defy central laws.  Patel said the Congress would oppose the dubious stance taken against Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar over the fuel price hike.  He said the party would not hesitate to speak out against the government on issues related to the public.  Excerpts from the interview.

 

Will the Congress under your leadership be aggressive?

 

We respond aggressively to issues that are close to the hearts of the people.  Our responsibility has increased as the Narendra Modi government at the Center has adopted anti-people policies.  It began to be sold to public sector companies, and fuel prices soared as crude oil prices fell.  He has imposed the road cess of Imp 18 and the agricultural development cess of Osd 4, but the money collected is not used for the purpose of collecting it.

 

You said that you would make the Congress the number one party in Maharashtra.  How can the party move up from the current fourth position in the state?  I have a very practical plan for this.  There are some problems in the organizational structure of the state, but I started to solve them.  I started reviewing across the state to strengthen my base.  We may not be able to win first place soon in the upcoming local government elections, but the results will be visible after the 2024 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.  After my appointment as Congress President, I received a great response from people from Mumbai, Nagpur and Bhandara.  The Congress is rooted in Maharashtra and it is not difficult to become the number one party in the state.

 

BMC has decided to contest the elections on its own.  We also made an announcement.  For other local bodies, the decision will be made in consultation with our leaders in the respective areas based on the needs and requirements at the local level. The alliance for local self-government elections could lead to conflict within the ruling coalition.

 

I see no reason for this.  Despite the alliance in the state, the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fought separately.  Why should there be a problem within the ruling coalition?  This government is stable and will complete its five-year term.

 

Two other parties in the Maharashtra Vikas Agadi (MVA) government have lodged complaints with the Congress over secondary treatment.  What do you have to say about this?

 

Being part of the Congress, the government could have been formed.  I will review all the departments organized by the Congress and, if necessary, we will talk to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister so that we can get equal consideration.  We are in power for the balanced development of the state and the interest of the people.  We do not tolerate secondary treatment.  We will not hesitate to speak out against the government on behalf of the people if necessary.

 

Congress talked about the state's own agricultural law to avoid the increased bill, to provide free electricity to small consumers and to defy central laws This does not seem to be happening.

 

We are determined to exempt electricity consumers from increased bills during lockdown.  Our Minister (Energy Minister and Congress leader Nitin Raut) has announced that 100 units of free electricity will be provided to consumers.  We will ensure that these declarations are met.  Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had recently spoken of a revenue shortfall of Rs 1.12 lakh crore.  We will talk about it, but we stand by the announcement made by the Congress ministers.

 

In the forthcoming budget session, we will focus on the state's own agricultural legislation.  Our Parliamentary Board passed a resolution in this regard.

 

The state has witnessed an unprecedented clash between Governor BS Koshyari and the MVA government.

 

The attitude of the Governor towards the affairs of the State Government is questionable.  People started questioning this.  They are expected to act as presidents impartially and treat everyone equally.  He asked the government to hold elections for the post of Speaker but did not specify the names to be nominated to the Legislative Council.  The conflict between the governor and the government is unprecedented and never seen in Maharashtra.

 

The Aam Aadmi Party is the first BJP MP to speak out against Prime Minister Narendra Modi before leaving the party in 2017.  Is it wrong to join the BJP before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections?

 

 

The reservations and protests I raised in 2017 are now being raised by the people of the country.  I joined the BJP in the hope of getting a better opportunity to serve the people.  But within a few years he was disappointed.  I was born a Congressman but was forced to join the BJP due to local politics in Bhandara-Gondia.

 

You criticized the silence of Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar and announced a ban on their films.  The opposition was only there to win the headlines.

 

We are serious about this.  I instructed the party workers to organize a protest against the actors for not speaking in the interest of the common people.  They are the symbols of the country, they have a democratic right and it is their duty to speak out against wrong policies.  He spoke in 2012 when the Manmohan Singh government was in power.  Why are they silent now?  If they are pressured not to speak out against the government, they should come out publicly and the people of the country will stand by them.

 

Although some actors have been declared patriotic by the esteemed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his nationality is in doubt.