Sena member complains on not being invited for project launch

Mumbai, Apr 19 (UNI) Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar today said it was ''unfortunate'' that Shiv Sena member Arvind Nerkar was not invited for the launch of Marine Drive beautification project, launched by Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy on Monday.

The Speaker asked the government to conduct an inquiry into the matter and report to the Lower House before the end of this session on the action taken against the erring officials of Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA).

The issue was raised by Arvind Nerkar (Sena) through a point of propriety.

Mr Nerkar, who represents the Opera House constituency, said the major part of the project work falls in his Assembly segment.

''Legislators from Colaba, Mumbadevi and Malabar Hill were invited and their photos were also published in the full-page advertisements appearing in all leading city newspapers. I am not raising the issue for my photograph, but because people of my constituency asked me why I was being left out'', he complained.

Mr Nerkar was supported by senior Sena member Datta Nalawade, who criticised the monopoly of MMRDA in the city's development projects.

Eknath Khadse (BJP) described the incident as deliberate and demanded an explanation from the government. ''The government spent lakhs of rupees on full-page advertisements for publicity of the event, but chose to insult local elected representatives'', he said.

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