MUMBAI
In a fiery session at the Legislative Assembly, Congress Legislative Party Leader Vijay Wadettiwar launched a sweeping critique of the state government, demanding accountability for a series of alleged scams and administrative failures. From electricity billing woes to major land disputes, the opposition leader left no stone unturned in his demands for justice.
Wadettiwar led the charge against the government’s rollout of smart electricity meters. While officials have publicly stated the installation is optional, Wadettiwar alleged that citizens are being forced to accept them, leading to a surge in reports of inflated bills reaching lakhs of rupees. He urged the government to halt this practice immediately to provide relief to the common man.
The Congress leader also highlighted a heartbreaking case involving a student studying at the University of Sydney. Despite being promised a government scholarship, the student has not received his tuition or living allowance, pushing him to a state of severe mental distress and even a suicide attempt. Wadettiwar insisted that the government release these funds immediately to save the student’s academic future.
Beyond personal grievances, the assembly session touched on massive financial concerns. Wadettiwar questioned the mysterious disappearance of Rs 4,000 crore from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) fixed deposits. He also demanded high-level probes into various infrastructure projects, including the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link, citing poor construction quality. Furthermore, he alleged that a corrupt nexus of land mafias and officials is generating up to Rs 100 crore in black money monthly through illegal industrial setups in regions like Uran and Panvel.
Adding to his list of demands, the Congress leader called for independent district status for Brahmapuri and questioned the state’s land acquisition policies in the Gadchiroli-Chandrapur belt. He argued that fertile farmland is being seized against the will of locals when forest land is available. Finally, he demanded a pay hike for revenue servants and an SIT investigation into a massive stamp duty evasion scam.
