Congress is against renaming of Aurangabad: MPCC chief

Aurangabad, Dec 31:

The issue of renaming the city is not there in Maha Vikas Aghadi''s common minimum programme (CMP). Undoubtedly, Congress will strongly oppose it, said Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and state''s revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat.

Thorat was speaking at the press conference organised at Gandhi Bhavan before the party''s meeting organised for the activists and office-bearers today in the afternoon.

" Congress does not believe in an emotional issue like renaming Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar. Instead, developmental issues are more important for the party," he said.

In reply to a question, the revenue minister said that he learnt about the divisional commissioner''s correspondence to the state government, after arriving in the city. " There will be an appropriate discussion on it, but Congress will not support the renaming proposal," clarified Thorat adding that party is aware of the politics of BJP and will try to keep them away from it.

Thorat mentioned that the proposal seeking approval to the appointment of 12 MLAs is pending with the Governor''s office. It is unfair to sit on the proposal when the chief minister had signed it. The act is obstructing the members from availing their rights.

The revenue minister underlined that the union Government provided relief to farmers by disbursing package of Rs 10,000 crore, but it had not released the GST share of Rs 30,000 to Maharashtra.

It may be noted that a demand to replace the city president Hisham Osmani was growing since past many days. Hence in reply to a question, Thorat made it clear that the party will not change the new city president and all will have to work under his supervision.

During the discussion, Thorat also commented that there is no need to say it differently that MIM works on whose signals.

At the outset, the District Congress president Kalyan Kale made an introductory speech. The Congress office-bearers were also present on occasion.