Rajdeep Sardesai hits back at Devendra Fadnavis, gives point-by-point rebuttal to his open letter

In the latest update to the back and forth of open letters written between eminent journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, the former IBN head has responded yet again. 

On Tuesday, Fadnavis had responded to an open letter written by Rajdeep Sardesai. 

Read: Double whammy: After Devendra Fadnavis slams Rajdeep Sardesai in open letter, Twitter mocks senior journo

Following are the excerpts of what Rajdeep wrote in his blog. 

On beef and meat bans: 

Rajdeep Sardesai said that Fadnavis government acted in a unilateral fashion and that it had affected the livelihood of a huge section of the population, predominantly that of the minority community. Regarding the meet ban, Rajdeep writes that while the earlier Congress government also issued notification, it was driven by a spirit of volunteerism. But, he said, that only this year the BJP-backed Mira- Bhayandar Municipal Corporation sought to implement the ban strictly and that emboldened other BJP councillors to enforce it in Mumbai also. According to the senior journo, the saffron party backed down only when it understood the enormity of public outrage regarding the issue. 

On Rakesh Maria's transfer: 

Rajdeep Sardesai writes that he refused to believe the argument posed by Devendra Fadnavis that Maria's was a routine transfer. He said that none of the police officers whom he has interacted with bought this reason. He raised a couple of pertinent questions relating to the transfer and asks why was Maria given the charge of probing the Sheena Bora murder case shortly after he was transferred from the post of Police Commissioner. Rajdeep also asks if the Mumbai police had clinching evidence and why the case had been suddenly transferred to the CBI. 

Sedition circular: 

According to Devendra Fadnavis, the Maharashtra government had just dutifully translated in Marathi a previously issued circular and the entire issue was blown out of proportion. 

However Rajdeep Sardesai questions this theory and ask why the Maharashtra government didn't simply withdraw the circular. Now that Bombay High Court has asked the government to reply on the circular, according to Rajdeep this round has been won by those who are worried about potential misuse of the circular. 

Farmers plight: 

Devendra Fadnavis said that farmers plight due to the drought was owing to faulty policies of the state government for the last 15 years. According to Rajdeep, while long term plans may result in change in the future, as of now there was very little improvement on ground. 

Further, Rajdeep hit out at the pseudo-liberal, leftist jibe by Fadnavis, saying that he was merely trying to do his duty for the last three decades. 

Read Rajdeep's full blog here.