Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena and Congress, have strongly condemned Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for labeling critics of the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link project as “rental ponies” and “liars” during his Assembly response. Fadnavis made these remarks while defending the project following a recent landslide that disrupted traffic. The criticism arose from his comments justifying the project after the traffic disruption caused by the landslide.
Shiv Sena UBT legislator Bhaskar Jadhav questioned Fadnavis’ past conduct as Leader of the Opposition and criticized his handling of allegations against Uddhav Thackeray. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshvardhan Sapkal likened Fadnavis’ accusations to a thief blaming the police and highlighted instances questioning the CM’s credibility. Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad emphasized the importance of accountability in large-scale projects and rejected the labeling of critics as anti-Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader Sushma Andhare penned an open letter to CM Fadnavis, strongly rebuking his choice of words in the Assembly. Andhare accused Fadnavis of insulting Maharashtra by referring to opposition members and questioners as “dogs” and “rental ponies.” She criticized Fadnavis for focusing on defending the project instead of addressing pressing issues like law and order and public welfare. Andhare highlighted the significant public expenditure on the project and stressed the citizens’ right to question any deficiencies.
Reminding Fadnavis of his own words from the past, Andhare questioned his current approach and criticized his silence on various critical issues affecting Maharashtra. She warned against a government mindset that suppresses opposition and criticism, emphasizing the importance of democratic values. The controversy surrounding the Missing Link project escalated after a landslide incident, drawing attention to the project’s integrity and public scrutiny.
