Centre ignored Maharashtra in Rs 20 lakh crore 'Atmanirbhar package': Shiv Sena

In yet another attack on the central government, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said that the Narendra Modi-led government ignored Maharashtra in the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package and gave nothing to revive the state's tourism sector.

In an editorial in the party's mouthpiece 'Saamana', Sena said that the tourism sector in Maharashtra is reeling under extreme pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic but the Centre's recent 'Atmanirbhar package' had nothing to revive it.

The strongly-worded editorial added that hoteliers and those in the hospitality industry in Mumbai, Matheran, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala-Khandala and Alibagh have suffered the most due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The state of Maharashtra is under heavy economic pressure and the union government should take the responsibility to support it, given that the state contributed much in terms of taxes to the Centre during better times, the party said.

It further added that the environment is not conducive for doing business under the present Modi regime. "Here, those making profits are seen as dacoits and robbers. The party asked it a crime to make a profit?" it asked.

Calling the revival of the loss-making tourism and hospitality industry in the state a big challenge, the party said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will help people to overcome the economic turbulence.

"Due to the 'people-friendly' and transparent policies of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, Maharashtra will soon rise from current economic turbulence," it said.

Sena also expressed hope that the coronavirus pandemic will end before Monsoon and the economic activities will soon gain momentum, helping Maharashtra retain its old glory of being a prosperous state.