In response to criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray regarding various foreign tours planned by ministers, Industries Minister Uday Samant defended Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s decision to cancel his UK and Germany trip. Samant clarified that the cancellation was prompted by pressing issues within the state and not in response to a tweet.
Defending the Chief Minister
Industries Minister Uday Samant came to the Chief Minister’s defense during an event in Pune, highlighting Shinde’s significant role in attracting investments to Maharashtra, making it the leading state in India for investor interest.
Thackeray’s Critique
Earlier in the day, Aaditya Thackeray criticized the Shinde government’s foreign tours, questioning the purpose of these visits. Thackeray expressed concern about the allocation of resources for foreign trips while farmers were facing challenges in the state.
Reasons for Cancellation
Samant explained that CM Shinde’s decision to cancel the foreign tour was driven by recent events, including a cloudburst in Nagpur and ongoing agitations within the state. He dismissed claims that the cancellation was influenced by a tweet.
London Trip Purpose
Minister Samant mentioned that he would be traveling to London with Cabinet colleague Sudhir Mungantiwar for a tiger claw memorandum of understanding (MOU) function, emphasizing the importance of the visit.
Countering Misinformation
Samant addressed a press conference to counter what he deemed “false news” circulating in society regarding his proposed visit to Davos. He provided insights into the agreements and investments made in Davos, highlighting the substantial progress made.
Investment Achievements
Regarding the Davos visit, Samant disclosed that in 2022, the government signed MoUs totaling ₹80,000 crores. In 2023, 19 agreements were signed, amounting to ₹1.37 lakh crore, with 70% of the work already completed.
