Shiv Sena (UBT) morcha against irregularities in Mumbai civic body on July 1: Uddhav; Shinde replies with 'dacoits' barb

The Shiv Sena (UBT) will organise a morcha outside the Mumbai municipal corporation against ''irregularities'' in its functioning on July 1, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, alleged ''loot'' of public money in Mumbai. He said money is “splurged” in the name of events like G20 and road concretization.

He attacked the Eknath Shinde-led government saying there is no one to question them.

Chief Minister Shinde hit back saying, ''It does not suit dacoits to talk about robbery'' and claimed they (Shiv Sena-UBT) are scared because of the SIT and are trying to mislead people.

Notably, Shinde on Monday approved setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe ''irregularities'' worth Rs 12,024 crore in various works of the Mumbai civic body flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

Thackeray, who has been raising allegations of corruption in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said in the absence of elected representatives, there is no one to question them (BJP-Shiv Sena government).

He alleged the state government lacks the courage to face elections.

Thackeray rejected the charge of corruption in BMC and said all the contracts were awarded through tendering process even when the Epidemic Act and Disaster Management Act were in force during the coronavirus pandemic.

BMC, India's richest civic body, was headed by Shiv Sena (undivided) from 1997 to 2022.

Thackeray said BMC's revenue was in deficit when Shiv Sena took charge in 1997 but in the next 25 years, its fixed deposits rose to Rs 92,000 crore.

He alleged around Rs 7,000-9,000 crore have been spent from these FDs which is a ploy to empty the coffers of Mumbai and make it beg before Delhi.

“Mumbai is left without any guardian and loot is on. Someone has to question BMC because this is people's money. The Shiv Sena (UBT) will take out a morcha against irregularities in the BMC,” he said, adding Sena leaders including his son Aaditya will lead the morcha.

The BMC is currently under an administrator and the term of its corporators ended early last year.

Speaking to reporters, Shinde said, ''It does not suit dacoits to talk about robbery. For the last 10-15 years those who robbed Mumbai…the CAG is going to ask where thousands of crore went. They are scared because of the SIT and this (the morcha) is an attempt to mislead''.

“......The robber is scolding the police. The SIT will work impartially and probe the allegations. This is Mumbai's money and it should stay with the people and cannot be diverted anywhere. Things will be clear after the probe,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Thackeray held a meeting with former corporators of BMC. Nearly a dozen Shiv Sena corporators owing allegiance to Thackeray have switched sides and joined the Shinde camp in the last year.