Maharashtra: Congress, NCP object to tough action against citizens, but CM Uddhav Thackeray stays firm

MUMBAI/PUNE: Though a section of senior cabinet members of the Congress and NCP have expressed serious reservations about coercive action taken by law-enforcing agencies against citizens, CM Uddhav Thackeray is in no mood to relax restrictions, sources said. Thackeray on Friday met NCP chief Sharad Pawar amid discontent in the NCP and Congress over the harsh implementation of the lockdown.
The CM and Sharad Pawar discussed the hardships caused to people by rules such as the 2km travel limit imposed by Mumbai police earlier this week.A senior NCP minister told TOI that the CM’s ‘Mission Begin Again’ project had failed to take off after the police brought in the 2km rule. Another minister said bureaucrats were taking decisions and the government was facing criticism from people.Skill development minister and NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik felt the Mumbai police decision has had an adverse impact on the business of small traders. “People appear to be exhausted and tired,” Malik said. Housing minister Jeetendra Awhad of the NCP said the government will have to take decisions which will help revive the economy. “We will have to strike a balance between economy and lockdown,” Awhad said.
Mumbai guardian minister Aslam Shaikh of the Congress said there was confusion over lockdown in Mumbai and its neighbouring areas. “Certain decisions taken by the Mumbai police and BMC have caused inconvenience to the people. I will meet the police commissioner and BMC chief on Monday to resolve the issue. In my opinion, both should come out with a clear standard operating procedure so that there is no confusion and inconvenience,” Shaikh said.
The senior NCP minister said, “If people go to the shop of their choice, even if it is 2km away, it is wrong to seize their vehicles and impose a fine of Rs 1,200. It should be examined if the person was moving around for a genuine cause or was loitering.”
Another minister said, “We are not taking any decisions on the lockdown, bureaucrats are imposing decisions on us and we are at the receiving end. We will have to reverse this trend.”
Reports said Pawar and the CM have now decided to meet on a weekly basis to review issues, resolve disputes and give directions to the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
However, a senior official, defending the restrictions, said, “We have seen what happened in the entire MMR region when lockdown was relaxed. Owing to indiscipline, the region has witnessed a spurt in cases, and deaths. The CM listens to all but takes his own decisions.”
Meanwhile, the move by local administrators in many parts of the state to announce a lockdown in areas under their jurisdiction has come as a jolt for industry associations. Some industry hubs affected are the Khed-Chakan belt in Pune, the Waluj MIDC in Aurangabad, the seed and steel production hub of Jalna and the textile town of Ichalkaranji, besides towns like Beed, Parbhani and parts of Pune city including the Dehu Cantonment Board and Wadgaon budruk gaothan area on Sinhagad Eoad.
Dilip Batwal, secretary of Federation of Chakan Industry, said, “It won’t be prudent to close industries as many of them have already faced financial losses in the last three months. They have recently started their operations. Most industries are adhering to social distancing norms and government guidelines.”