Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has responded to criticism over his absence from Parbhani and Beed following recent crises, emphasizing that his government’s actions and prompt response are more significant than his physical presence. “The action our government took, our response matters more. I do not believe in promoting tragedy tourism,” Fadnavis said when questioned about not visiting the sites of the twin crises—the riots in Parbhani and the murder of a sarpanch in Beed.
Fadnavis stated that both incidents were extremely serious and reiterated that his government acted swiftly to address them. He explained that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was sent to visit the affected areas as he himself was occupied with the winter session. “As a chief minister, I may not be able to attend to every problem when others in the government can handle them,” he remarked, countering criticism from the Shiv Sena (UBT), which accused him of ignoring the gravity of the situations.
The Parbhani riots were triggered by the alleged desecration of a replica of the Constitution by a mentally unstable individual, leading to violence. In Beed, an upright sarpanch was murdered by criminals. Both incidents occurred soon after Fadnavis took office as chief minister earlier this month.
Addressing the media in his home constituency, Fadnavis said the historic mandate given to the Mahayuti government had raised public expectations. He assured citizens that the government was committed to fulfilling its promises and achieving balanced development for Maharashtra. Fadnavis highlighted plans for the energy sector, promising stable or reduced power tariffs and the completion of irrigation and river-linking projects, which he said would transform the state’s economy. He also noted that Gadchiroli was poised to become a hub for mining and steel production.
Fadnavis expressed concern over the growing threat of cybercrime and fraud, stating that the government was implementing an integrated approach to address these challenges through combined cyber and digital platforms.
Responding to Congress’s accusations of disrespect towards Dr. B.R. Ambedkar by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Fadnavis dismissed them as baseless and politically motivated. He accused Congress of creating fake narratives to remain relevant and highlighted their historical neglect of Ambedkar’s contributions.
