Maharashtra govt failed to brief AG: BJP

NAGPUR: State BJP president Chandrakant Patil said leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government cannot give excuse of failures in court cases by blaming Maharashtra’s attorney-general.

On Sunday, Congress leader Nana Patole alleged that AG Ashutosh Kumbhakoni’s professional performance seems ‘suspicious’ because the state seems to be losing cases in recent times.

In addition, Patole said that Kumbhakoni was appointed during the previous regime but still continues in the same post.

Patil said, “Who briefs the AG? It is the state government’s job to discuss with the AG about the current court cases and the stand which needs to be taken. It’s a very desparate move if someone says that the AG’s performance is suspicious.”

The veteral BJP leader added that under Devendra Fadnavis’ regime, there used to be a detailed review of legal matters. “We would sit late in the night and discuss all pending matters with the AG. There used to be a clear cut understanding on what the state government’s stand is regarding every issue and how we can better present our side before the courts,” said Patil.

Former cabinet minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that Patole ‘unknowingly’ spoke the truth. “If he says that AG has not been presenting the state properly in the court then that reflects on the government too. It is the MVA government which has failed in fighting the legal battles in a proper manner,” said Bawankule.

“If the case is in Supreme Court, the state should have briefed the AG on what steps to take. The AG does not appear in the Apex court, but hires legal eagles to fight on the state’s behalf. So Patole has accepted that it is in fact the state government which has failed,” said Bawankule.

Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have no idea on how to speak about someone. Before speaking one must also keep in mind the decorum of the position being talked about.”

He said Patole’s statement was childish. “They are unable to run the government and are failing miserably. Kumbhakoni is just being made a scapegoat. These people are just busy in arresting people or making wild allegations and sometimes tied in fighting each other,” said Mungantiwar.