PM attacks MVA over Mumbai Metro-3: Raut says Sena (UBT) not anti-development

Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday refuted Prime Minister PM Narendra Modis claims that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi MVA government obstructed the Mumbai Metro3 line project Raut emphasised that their stance was not against development but aimed at preserving the Aarey forestHe also responded to PM Modis comments regarding the Congress party a partner in MVA suggesting that it sought to fund electoral campaigns by promoting drug use among youth Raut challenged PM to focus on the drug busts occurring in Gujarat insteadDuring his visit to Maharashtra on Saturday October 5 PM Modi asserted that the Uddhav Thackerayled MVA government was only adept at stalling projectsThe Mumbai Metro3 line work was halted owing to ego leading to a wastage of taxpayers money and an increase in the projects cost by Rs 14000 crore he statedPM Modi further claimed that MVA had also obstructed the MumbaiAhmedabad bullet train and the Atal Setu projects as well as hindered water supply and irrigation initiatives in the stateIn response to PM Modis allegations Raut reiterated that the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray had aimed to protect the Aarey forest area which they believed would be adversely affected by the proposed Mumbai Metro3 car shed We have never opposed development our focus has always been on safeguarding the environment he statedResponding to PMs accusations about Congresss involvement in a drugs case Raut questioned Modis effectiveness during his 10 years in power How can he level such accusations against Congress Has he been idle for a decade he askedThe Rajya Sabha member asserted that the more Modi campaigns in Maharashtra the more the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP risks losing seats in the upcoming assembly elections which are expected to take place in November BJP alongside its allies ndash Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawarheaded Nationalist Congress Party NCP ndash forms the ruling Mahayuti coalition in the state reported news agency PTIRaut pointed to significant drug seizures at Gujarats Mundra port questioning why Modi failed to address these incidents linked to the Adanicontrolled portOver Rs 35 lakh crore worth of drugs have been seized there Why doesnt he mention it Raut questionedHe further claimed that a drug kingpin named Lalit Patil had escaped from police custody while in Punes Sassoon Hospital suggesting links to individuals within Shindes cabinet Raut highlighted that cabinet minister Sanjay Rathod who has faced allegations related to a womans death in Pune was allowed to share the stage with PM Modi during his recent visit to Washim raising concerns about accountabilityHe also mocked BJP for the frequent paroles granted to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh the Dera Sacha Sauda chief and convicted rapist PTI reported Whenever elections approach in Punjab and Haryana he is released on parole to campaign for BJP How does Modi allow this he askedRaut concluded by noting that despite Modis frequent visits to Maharashtra where the Mahayuti coalition had underperformed in the Lok Sabha elections the PM continued to inaugurate segments of the same Metro line in Pune multiple times which he found perplexing I cant comprehend how he does this Raut remarkedWith PTI inputs