After a day of heated debate on the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on alleged allegation by City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO), the evening on March 4 turned out to be of light moments for the MLAs. The occasion was, the publication of book Arthsankalp: Sopya Bhashet (Budget: In Simple Language), written by leader of Opposition in state legislative Assembly, Devendra Fadnavis. The book was released at a programme organised at Central Hall of the Assembly.
The event came as an opportunity for everyone to poke each other. While the luminaries like Chairperson of state legislative Coouncil Ramraje NImbalkar, Speaker of the state legislative Assembly Nana Patole, leader of Opposition in the state legislative Council Pravin Darekar and finance minister and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar took the chance to pour their heart about Devendra Fadnavis. However, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray apparently, still disturbed by demonitasion, expressed his grief over it.
Elaborating about the book, Devendra Fadnavis said, “My objective was to keep the book as simple and crisp as possible. So that anyone could read it within 40 minutes. The language of the books is such that even a layman can understand the intricacies of the budget.
Speaking after the book was released, deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar said, “The book will definitely help me when I will present budget on March 6. While going through the book, I came across a note which says, all the MLAs must keep quiet and listen to the finance minister while he is presenting the budget. I hope Sudhir Mungantiwar and Girish Mahajan take this note seriously!” Pawar recalled that, while in Opposition, Fadnavis was the only MLA who would listen to the budget whole heartedly. Laughter broke out in the Hall when Pawar, addressing veteran BJP leader Ram Naik, said, “Fadnavis is a multi-talented person, and he can be of great help in Delhi. So please do something to send him to help the Centre. It will bring us good days. On the contrary, Mungantiwar would be the happiest person if Fadnavis goes to Delhi.”
In a classical show of his wittiness, CM Uddhav Thackeray said, “The book is the testimony of Fadnavis’ knowledge of finance. And he has exhibited his skill by getting his book published without spending on the programme.” However, he brought up the issue of demonetisation and asked, whether it should have been included in successive budgets or not. The remark was hard to be missed by the audience. “Why is he still cribbing about demonitisation? Has it hit him where it hurts the most?” was the whisper in the corridors of Vidhan Bhavan, after the programme.
