Fadanvis and Darekar—enemies of Maharshtra
by abhay mokashi
Maharashtra has fought several battles in the past, whether political, social or economic. Currently, the state has been appreciated in various quarters for its fight against the dreaded COVID spreading Corona virus.
The state has a galaxy of eminent personalities, but its history shows that there have been betrayers too.
The state’s handling of the COVID 19 pandemic in phase one was appreciated internationally, especially the way the spread of the dreaded disease was controlled in Dharavi. In phase two, the state has won appreciation from the Supreme Court. The state has been quick is setting up emergency quarantine centres and also has been able to meet the demand for oxygen for serious patients, even as most states in the country were gasping for supply of oxygen.
Even in terms of vaccination, official records show that the state has topped the vaccination figure in the country.
These achievements should make any self-respecting Maharashtrian (a resident of Maharashtra, not necessarily Marathi speaking) proud of the state. But that is not the case. There is a section of Maharashtra’s society, which has not only failed to appreciate the achievements, but have been critical of all these issues. It is unfortunate that this section is led by the Devendra Fadanvis and Pravin Darekar, the Leaders of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly and Council respectively. They have tried to malign the state on every possible platform, though the intelligent did not fall a prey to their blame games. Fadanvis is anyway keen on breaking away from the state, with his and his party’s demand for the formation of Vidarbha state.
A galaxy of eminent leaders have held the position of Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra and now we have Fadanvis and Darekar, but they cannot be said to be of the same calibre. It is like the presence of carbon in diamond and charcoal; not all forms of carbon glitter and coal leaves the hands dirty.
Leaders of the Opposition can play a constructive role in the welfare of a state, by standing by the government and correcting it, if it goes wrong, especially in the times of crisis. Like most other states, Maharashtra is also suffering from the spread of COVID 19, in fact at a certain point of time, Maharashtra had the highest number of cases in the country. It was due to the appropriate steps taken by the Government, especially Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Health Minister Dr Rajesh Tope, along with a large team of health workers and other sections of COVID warriors. Of course, the people of the state also helped in this to a great extent. But Fadanvis and Darekar are blind to all this. They are behaving like enemies of the state and its people.
Fadanvis, after having tasted power for a term as the Chief Minister, is like a jackal who has tasted blood. Though the saying is tiger, it cannot be used here as a tiger is graceful. Fadanvis seems to have become a victim of obsessive compulsory disorder, because throughout the day he keeps criticising the state government and the Chief Minister. By their criticism of the handling of the COVID situation in the state, Fadanvis and his lackey Darekar, are insulting the COVID warriors in the state, whose work is laudable.
Instead of using their political connection in Delhi in helping Maharashtra with requirement of oxygen, the duo went on a rampage criticising the government. Maharashtra has always been known for self-respect and that was aptly displayed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who did not bow to any foreign power, however mighty it was. Thanks to the failure of the two Leaders of the Opposition in the state in getting oxygen for the state, the state took steps to become self-sufficient to a great extent.
Fadanvis and many of his supporters in Nagpur, failed to wear a mask at the birth anniversary celebrations of the Maratha king. A large crowd had gathered in Nagpur for the celebrations, soon enough Nagpur had the highest number of COVID 19 cases in Nagpur. BJP legislators opposed the near lockdown measures by the state government and many of them said that shops and commercial establishments should be closed and that Holi should be allowed to be celebrated. Soon Mumbai experienced a surge in COVID 19 cases.
When Fadanvis was the Leader of the Opposition during the Congress rule in the state, he had demanded that the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues should be charged for culpable homicide for the farmers’ suicides. By that argument Fadanvis, Darekar and other BJP legislators should be tried for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The duo should consider themselves lucky that Shivaji Maharaj is not the ruler now, otherwise they would have faced the punishment prevalent during his rule.
After the Supreme Court observation on the role of Maharashtra in fighting COVID, the least Fadanvis and Darekar should do is apologise to the people of the state.