Fadnavis has a message for Uddhav: Take tough calls, BJP is behind you
Fadnavis has a message for Uddhav: Take tough calls, BJP is behind you
Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says opposition will not hurt govt’s efforts but calls for better coordination between ministers & stricter enforcement of lockdown.
File photo of Devendra Fadnavis | ThePrint
Mumbai: With Maharashtra staring at possible community transmission of Covid-19 cases, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said he will not oppose any decision of his ally-turned-rival, incumbent Uddhav Thackeray, in tackling the spread, adding that he will work with him “as a team”.
The state opposition leader, however, slammed the Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, comprising the Shiv Sena, Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), for lack of coordination among ministers, saying they should keep the chief minister informed about their decisions.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was speaking to ThePrint in a telephonic interview Thursday.
“Whatever our political differences may be, we are together when it comes to tackling this crisis. I will not criticise the government in any way,” Fadnavis said. “If there are any suggestions and improvements, I will reach out to them.
“Today’s condition is not one to create divisions of Centre and state, or ruling party and opposition. Today’s condition is about how we can face the crisis together. We can introspect on any shortcomings later,” he said, adding he has had two telephonic conversations with Thackeray. “I assured him, take any tough decision needed. We will be behind you as a team.”
Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country so far, accounting for 335 of the total 2,301 cases.
There are also concerns of a silent community transmission taking place in the state with sporadic cases being recorded of patients with no travel history or contact with Covid-19-affected persons testing positive.
“The rate at which cases in Maharashtra are increasing, especially in a congested place like Mumbai and finding a case in a place like Dharavi, is like knocking at the doors of community transmission,” Fadnavis said. “Although we can’t say today whether there will be community transmission or not, we will have to be prepared for it and speedily create quarantine facilities and prepare hospitals.”
He urged the state government to extensively use shut schools, colleges, malls and vacant residential buildings to build quarantine facilities.
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