Mumbai: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flagged off the beginning of the Mumbai metro rail project in Mumbai on Wednesday.
But all wasn't well on the political front as Congress heavyweights used the metro platform to take potshots at one another and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh bore the brunt of the attack.
The event started well with Prime Minister’s encouraging speech.
The praise from the PM brought a smile on the face of Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. But the smile didn't last for long as he found himself targeted in a game of political skullduggery.
The first attack began with the Urban Land Ceiling Act (ULCA), a political hot potato.
"The ULCA has not been repealed, it was promised but not done," said Petroleum Minister Murli Deora.
"I don't understand why the State government has a mental block to scrapping the Urban Land ceiling act," Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy said.
Then the attack came from within as state mate Gurudas Kamat sharpened his claws.
"We hope sir, when you Mr Prime Minister go back to Delhi all this doesn't fall apart," says Mumbai Congress Chief Gurudas Kamat.
And the final blow came when the man of the moment - Manmohan Singh turned his guns on the civic administration.
"Municipal administration should be freed from corruption and stranglehold of land mafia. People need better urban governance," said Prime Minister.
The flabbergasted Chief Minister gathered his wits about him and tried to respond, but it was a feeble effort.
"Paise toh hain aur projects bhi sanction ho rahe hai; Mumbai has never complained but silently suffered" said Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. (There is no money and projects are continued to get sanctioned. Mumbai has never complained but silently suffered.)
Even as Maharastra government surges ahead with its Shanghai dream, the PM's statement comes as a reminder that, amidst its ambitious planning, the state government first, needs to get its house in order.
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