Maharashtra government should release a white paper on the investment proposals that it claims to have signed at Davos, demanded Congress president Nana Patole in Mumbai on Friday.
Addressing a press conference, Patole said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that agreements signed with 61 companies during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, will result in investments worth Rs 15.70 lakh crore and the creation of 15.95 lakh jobs. While significant investments in the state are welcome, the public has a right to know the specifics of these agreements and the reality behind them as similar grand announcements have been made in the past as well, he said.
Hence, it is necessary that the Mahayuti government should release a white paper on the investments and jobs generated from previous deals made during Davos visits, he added.
Patole pointed out that of the 61 companies with which agreements were signed in Davos, 51 are based in India, 43 of which are from Mumbai and Pune. Only 10 companies are foreign-based. Among these, a Rs 1,500 crore deal was signed between CIDCO and BookMyShow, despite Mumbai Police investigating the online platform for black marketing of Coldplay tickets. Furthermore, an agreement was signed with Hiranandani, a company currently under investigation for preparing fake documents related to demolition activities in Powai’s Jay Bhim Nagar and for an EPFO scam, which is being probed by the CBI, he said and asked if the government is encouraging black marketing by collaborating with such companies.
Patole also criticised the government for signing agreements with alcohol manufacturers—an Rs 750 crore deal was signed with Heineken, and another Rs 1,500 crore deal with AB InBev, a beer producer. Article 47 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) in the Constitution states that the state should work to prohibit the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs harmful to health except for medicinal purposes, he said. "By signing agreements with liquor companies, is the BJP government turning Maharashtra into a 'liquor state'" Patole asked.
Additionally, a deal was signed with Dhanashree Mandhani's PRYM Company in Jalna to manufacture drones, with a target of producing 6,000 drones. The company claims to have a 10,000 sqft. factory for drone manufacturing, but, according to Patole, no such facility exists, and the company only assembles parts of knock-down drones imported from abroad.
Patole highlighted that while the CM was in Davos, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai visited Mumbai and secured Rs 6,000 crore worth of investments for his state. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited Pune and met entrepreneurs to attract industries to Madhya Pradesh.
He urged the government to bring genuine investments to Maharashtra instead of misleading people in the name of Davos.