Navalkar demands abolition of governor's post

Mumbai, Mar 20 (UNI) Senior Shiv Sena leader Pramod Navalkar today demanded that the governor's post, which incurs an expenditure of around Rs four crore every year, be abolished.

Participating in the discussion on the thanks giving motion on the Governor's address, Mr Navalkar said the governor's post has become an institution.

Mr Navalkar, who is known for his writings on the night life of Mumbai, said that the ban on dance bar will not stand in the court.

He alleged that there are many nefarious activities going on in Mumbai but Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil has chosen to crack down only on the dance bars while no action has been taken against massage parlours and such other activities. He claimed that sex workers from erstwhile Soviet Union are now active in Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore.

Referring to the red beacon lights on the cars of VVIPs, Mr Navalkar said such lights are freely available in the market and susceptible to misuse. He said that Income Tax officers and former sheriffs still use the beacon light on their cars and this should be stopped.

Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, speaking on the occasion, sought to know what the government had done to prevent suicides by farmers which has now risen to 1100. He alleged that the government has paid only partial compensation to the families of 331 farmers who had committed suicides.

He alleged that although important central portfolios like Home, Agriculture, and Power are held by ministers hailing from Maharashtra, these ministers had done nothing for the State.

UNI JM MAZ RL DB2146