Fadnavis made CM to 'protect' Rs 40k crore funds: Hegde

Former BJP union minister Ananth Kumar Hegde said that Devendra Fadnavis was made the chief minister to protect Rs 40,000 of central government funds from being misused

Controversial Karnataka BJP leader Ananth Kumar Hegde stirred a hornet's nest by claiming that the purpose of installing Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister of Maharashtra for 80 hours was to move back Rs 40,000 crore to the Centre.
Fadnavis himself has distanced from the statement of Kumar, a former minister in Narendra Modi government.

However, the BJP has come under fire from Maha Vikas Aghadi partners Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.

"A CM has access to around Rs 40,000 crore from Centre. He (Fadnavis) knew if Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena government come to power it would misuse funds meant for development. So it was decided there should be drama. Fadnavis became CM and in 15 hours he moved Rs 40,000 crore back to the Centre," Kumar was quoted saying.
According to Kumar, an MP from Uttara Kannada, this was done to prevent misuse of these funds.

He added: “You all know our man in Maharashtra became CM for 80 hours. Then, Fadnavis resigned. Why did he do this drama? Didn’t we know that we don’t have a majority and yet he became CM… This is the question everyone is asking.”

Fadnavis tweeted: "Not a single penny got transferred from Maharashtra to Government of India."

Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis rubbished Kumar’s allegations as preposterous and “100% baseless”.

“I don’t know what he (Hegde) has said… I have not taken any such policy decision as the CM. All such allegations are false,” Fadnavis said.

"Those who are ignorant of the state-Centre accounting systems make such misleading statements. I call upon the state finance department to probe the issue and bring the truth before the people," said Fadnavis, the Leader of Opposition.

He clarified that as far as the bullet train is concerned, the Maharashtra government has no role except for land acquisition.

Commenting on it, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said it was not possible to transfer such a huge amount of Rs 40,000 crore back to the Centre, and said this is being spread to hide the BJP’s defeat in Maharashtra.

"However, if it is indeed done, then it is a gross injustice to the state. It will have serious consequences and result in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation as the flames of this will spread all over the country," Malik said in a strong reaction.

"It is backstabbing and treachery with Maharashtra," Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said. "Is this true," Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, wanting to know from Fadnavis.