Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs and minister Shambhuraj Desai face off in Maharashtra assembly

Mumbai Jul 15 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs and Maharashtra minister Shambhuraj Desai on Tuesday traded barbs in the legislative assembly over the "delay" in securing a Central nod for removing encroachments on defence land in Bandra and rehabilitating slum-dwellers.

Bandra East MLA Varun Sardesai, who belongs to Shiv Sena (UBT), said redevelopment of 9,483 shanties on the 42-acre defence land in his constituency has been held up as the Central government has not transferred this land to the state government.

"You run the government in the Centre and Maharashtra. Why don't you follow up? Will the land be transferred to the state government, and will slum dwellers be relocated? The issue has been pending since 2017," said Sardesai.

Responding on behalf of Housing Minister Eknath Shinde, state minister Desai said, "Shinde had sent four letters to the Centre. He has been following up on the matter".

Alluding to the previous MVA government's tenure, he said no follow-up was taken between 2019 and 2022, drawing sharp reaction from Sena (UBT) MLAs.

They hit back, saying Desai was also part of that government (headed by Uddhav Thackeray).

Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav questioned why Desai was replying on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde and whether he had sought the Chair's permission.

"Where is the (authorisation) letter?" he asked.

Amid the uproar, the presiding officer adjourned the assembly for ten minutes.

After the House reassembled, Speaker Rahul Narwekar said he had allowed the division of work on the request of Eknath Shinde and entrusted the responsibility of replying to issues related to the Housing and Urban Development Department during the legislature session to Shiv Sena ministers.

Jadhav clarified that he was not criticising the Chair's decision but raised this issue since the Opposition was not happy with the replies given by ministers. PTI MR NSK