Opposition Critiques CM Fadnavis for MoUs with Maharashtra Firms at Davos
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Synopsis
The Maharashtra government faced criticism from Shiv Sena and Congress for signing 54 MoUs with local companies at Davos, urging that such agreements could have been made in Mumbai instead, saving public funds.
Key Takeaways
- The Maharashtra government signed 54 MoUs at Davos.
- Criticism emerged for signing local agreements abroad.
- Shiv Sena and Congress voiced concerns over misallocation of resources.
- Calls were made for fostering local investment opportunities.
- Suggestions to host future events in Maharashtra were proposed.
Mumbai, Jan 23 (NationPress) Following the Maharashtra government's announcement of signing 54 MoUs related to investment proposals totaling Rs 15.7 lakh crore at the World Economic Forum summit, the Shiv Sena and Congress criticized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. They argued that since most of the companies are based in Mumbai and Maharashtra, these agreements could have been finalized locally instead of incurring significant expenses for the Davos trip.
On Thursday, Shiv Sena leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray expressed that the Chief Minister's trip appears to be poorly managed by his office, noting that out of the 29 companies involved, only one was foreign.
Aaditya stated on X: “While I support any genuine investment in our nation and state, this Davos trip seems misguided. Of the MoUs signed with 29 companies, merely one is international; the rest are Indian or based in India. Notably, 20 out of these 29 companies are located in Maharashtra, with 15 in Mumbai, where the @CMOMaharashtra operates.”
He added: “What’s the rationale behind having these 28 companies sign MoUs in Davos? The Chief Minister could have better utilized his time for fostering international relations with visiting dignitaries, companies, and entrepreneurs. Davos is an exceptional venue for expanding global connections for a state, bringing together numerous talented individuals and organizations.”
“What’s the point of focusing inward when the CM could engage with the world for Maharashtra? Interact with others in Congress and participate in valuable sessions to keep pace with global developments. Why has Magnetic Maharashtra not been executed since mid-2022, allowing these companies to sign MoUs here?” he questioned.
“I sincerely urge the CM to execute these significant MoUs within our country, in Maharashtra, inviting the world instead of signing them abroad without global engagement. It would also be beneficial if the current government collaborates with the WEF to establish a summer or mid-year Davos in Maharashtra—something we began promoting in May 2022,” Aaditya suggested.
He humorously noted: “It’s amusing to see the entire department and officers from the Urban Development minister present, yet the minister himself was excluded from the delegation in favor of another minister from his party.”
Meanwhile, Sachin Sawant, general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, also criticized the Chief Minister regarding the MoUs and questioned the need to visit Davos.
Sawant remarked on X: “They squandered public funds traveling to Davos and made investment agreements with Indian companies, most of which are headquartered in Mumbai. These agreements could have been facilitated from the ministry! Reliance's Anant Ambani could have expressed gratitude to the government from Mantralaya. The pretenses and falsehoods are hallmarks of this grand alliance government, reflecting the operations of MahaYuti.”
