A proposed refinery in Maharashtra is proving to be a new flashpoint between the ruling partners BJP and Shiv Sena, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and leaders of his ally party publicly contradicting each other over the government clearance.
The Shiv Sena dared Fadnavis to go ahead with the multi-billion dollar refinery in Nanar in Ratnagiri district, over 350 kms from here, amidst a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by its leader Uddhav Thackeray who said the project has been brought to the state by "a villain".
This morning, Industries Minister Subhash Desai, a senior Sena leader, announced in Nanar that the government notification for acquiring land for the project has been cancelled.
Hours later, the chief minister, however, contradicted him, saying the order has not been cancelled.
"What Desai said was his personal opinion. The notification (to acquire land) can be cancelled only by a high-powered committee. The government has not yet cancelled the notification," Fadnavis told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
A high-powered committee, headed by the state's chief secretary, is mandated to deal with issues related to land acquisition.
In the evening, another Shiv Sena leader and member of Maharashtra legislative council Anil Parab contradicted the chief minister, saying, "There is no Act that says high-powered committee headed by chief secretary alone has powers to cancel such notifications. A minister can take such decision."
He added that, "If a minister can issue a notification, then he has rights to cancel it too."
Daring Fadnavis to go ahead with the project despite the ally's opposition, Parab said, "Sena has opposed the project. Now those who wish to push it, they can show us how they launch it."
Earlier, Desai, while addressing a public function in Nanar in the presence of Thackeray, said, "Not an inch of land will be allowed to be acquired for the refinery project."
Addressing the rally, Thackeray made a veiled attack on Modi, saying, "This project has been brought to Nanar by a villain who promised the country achche din (good days)."
Asking the people of Nanar and surrounding areas not to give up "even an inch" of their land for the project, he said, "Today, we are peaceful. But if you continue to oppress us, we will change our tactics... If they come to survey the land again, stop them in your own way, lie on the roads."
Referring to the names which are said to have the ownership of land in Nanar, the Sena MLC said, "I would like to know since when people like Shah and Modi have become residents of Konkan region, where Nanar refinery project is proposed. They are not farmers, but middlemen."
Speaking on the project at the Nanar rally, Sena MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Vinayak Raut alleged that Fadnavis was "bowing before Delhi (an inference to the Modi government)."
Referring to Thackeray's remarks, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said, "If the Shiv Sena is calling the Prime Minister a villain, then should we call Uddhav Thackeray a "side" villain? We would like to know the the Sena's role in the 'Dirty Picture' (BJP-led regime) being screened for the last four years."