Fadnavis rejects Eknath Shinde's claim 107 Pak nationals missing in state
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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis contradicted his deputy Eknath Shinde’s claim on Sunday that 107 Pakistani nationals the state were missing, suggesting discord within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Shinde made the statement in the wake of Centre’s announcement to revoke visa given to Pakistani nationals, responding to terror attack in Pahalgam.
Fadnavis corrected Shinde in his reply that all of the Pakistanis staying in the state have been identified and will be deported.
The Shiv Sena chief, who harboured ambition to become chief minister, told a party rally in Vidarbha’s Buldhana district that some 107 Pakistani nationals were missing, and asked them to leave the country, The Indian Express reported.
‘Amit bhai (Union Home minister Amit Shar) and Modi ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) have warned that Pakistani nationals should leave the country at the earliest.. In Maharashtra, some 107 Pakistani nationals are missing. They should leave the country right now. If not, the police will find you and encounter you (thoktil). That’s the kind of anger people have right now,’ Shinde was quoted as saying.
Fadnavis, who was in Pune, denied Shinde’s claim without naming him, saying that not a single Pakistani national was missing, adding ‘All Pakistani nationals have been identified and they will be deported. Not a single Pakistani national will remain here. The process will be over by today evening or tomorrow morning.’
Another instance of infighting came about last week when they each claimed credit for bringing back to Mumbai the tourists who were stranded in Kashmir following terror attack.
After the Chief Minister’s Office announced as having helped 500 tourists reach home, Shinde’s office stated that Shiv Sena brought back 520 tourists to Mumbai on special flights.
Shinde beat Fadnavis to it when he reached Srinagar, though BJP’s Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan was there to overlook rescue operations.
Maharashtra BJP chief and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule rounded it off saying Shinde had gone to Srinagar as a party leader.