Ruling Shiv Sena’s Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske said his party has organised three planes to return tourists even as the Maharashtra government planned two unique flights to bring back stranded visitors.
A conflict has erupted inside the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra over claiming credit for returning tourists from the state desperate to catch flights home as 26 people, including six tourists from Maharashtra, were killed by terrorists near Pahalgam.
Maharashtra CMO late Thursday night released a statement saying that 500 stranded visitors had returned to Maharashtra from J&K. The CMO also said that on Friday, a special flight from Maharashtra government would return roughly 232 tourists, most of them were from Akola and Amravati districts.
Hours after CMO’s announcement of the return of about 500 visitors, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office issued a second statement asserting that special flights had returned 520 Shiv Sena tourists to Mumbai.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde himself travelled to Kashmir in an effort to bring back as many stranded visitors as he could. So far, 520 visitors have returned to Mumbai on four flights planned by the Shiv Sena.
Carrying J&K residents, Star Airlines, a private firm, took departure for Mumbai on Thursday at 1 am. It brought 75 visitors to Mumbai. 370 tourists, meanwhile, came back to Mumbai on two Akasa Air planes departing Srinagar today (Thursday) at 2 pm and 5 pm. The first flight arrived in Mumbai at 7 pm tonight; the second at approximately 9 pm. The Shiv Sena has set up special buses to bring the returned travellers home, ” it said.
The statement said that 75 additional passengers would return to Mumbai late at night and that another Star Airlines flight touched down in Mumbai at 8 pm on Thursday night. The Shiv Sena has successfully delivered 520 people to Mumbai securely with this.
Reaching Srinagar on Wednesday night, Shinde published footage on Thursday showing him personally supervising the flight departure of visitors. Shinde supervised their (tourists) airport-to-hotel transfer. He talked to them in polite terms and even went with them for a unique group shot to boost their mood. Shinde stated that he personally saw the group, comforted them, and went with them to the plane.
Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister, also published a video in which state Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan, who the state government has dispatched to Srinagar to coordinate efforts to bring back visitors from Maharashra, speaks to the CM via video call. The video depicts doctors treating injured visitors. Fadnavis also thanked doctors and spoke with them.
Mhaske found himself in a scandal when he said Shinde made it possible for people who had never flown to do so. Government is assisting, but we too understand our duty and flew 75 visitors yesterday on a special trip. About 185 visitors arrived on Thursday afternoon; 185 more will arrive by night. Of the 45 Wardha and Nagpur visitors who had travelled there by train, many are now residing in a CRPF camp.
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Earlier on Wednesday morning, when Fadnavis ordered Mahajan to go to J&K to guarantee seamless repatriation of the trapped visitors, by evening Shinde also departed for Srinagar in a chartered plane.
The state government was criticised by the Opposition for politicising the matter. “When we in the Opposition are prepared to work with the ruling party on how to handle terrorism in J&K, the allies in Maharashtra government are attempting to compete with one another on initiatives to return stranded tourists from the state. Fadnavis urged Mahajan to visit J&K to coordinate activities; Shinde’s hurried trip to Srinagar reveals the division in the state government. At least during times like this, the politics of overshadowing each other should be put aside,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut.
We do have questions about J&K, the Centre’s approach to issues, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s capacity. But we will bring up these problems at the proper moment. What we are witnessing in Maharashtra, however, is regrettable.
Mhaske was criticised by the NCP (SP). Does he even get what he’s saying? Is he doing a favour by bringing back people? The flights set up are from people’s tax. The Lok Sabha MP’s language is condemned by Rohini Khadse, state unit head of the party’s women section.
Read More: Pahalgam Terror Attack: Maharashtra Govt Announces ₹5 Lakh Aid for Victims’ Families
