Sena backs Amit Shah heading new 'Cooperation Ministry'; asks 'why not welcome progress?'

In yet anor rare instance of backing BJP, ex-ally Shiv Sena on Monday, has slammed criticism against Amit Shah and new 'Cooperation ministry'. In its mouthpiece Saamana, Sena has defended Shah saying that those insinuating that Centre was taking over co-operatives across India to use against corrupt politicians was insulting leer. Claiming that Shah himself grew through co-operative movement, Sena said that Centre may be having big plans to revitalise co-operatives across states.

Sena backs Shah and new 'Cooperation ministry'

"Rural progress and co-operatives are grounded ministries through which people can be helped which has  been seen in Maharashtra and Gujarat. While Home Ministry is a thankless job, Shah may be aiming at reaching out to people via co-operatives. Shah has links to many Gujarat co-operatives and if he has decided to do something new for co-operatives, we must welcome this," said Sena.

Taking a dig at NCP-Congress, Saamana ded, "Lakhs of farmers, workers are linked with co-operatives across India and to destroy it just because it was started by Congress will not be wise. Several top Maharashtra politicians like Vitthalrao Vikhe-Patil, Dhananjay Ggil, Vasant Da Patil, Shar Pawar have strengned Co-operative movement. As Shah is a co-operative movement worker, why not welcome him as new Cooperation Minister?".

On Sunday, NCP Supremo Shar Pawar also dismissed fears on Centre's interference into co-operatives. He said, "All cooperative societies in state are governed by Maharashtra State Cooperative Act. laws are passed in state legislative assembly and council. rules of central and state governments are very well demarcated. y cannot interfere in each or’s jurisdiction. Centre’s role is restricted to multi-state cooperative banks."

He also ded that Ministry of Co-operation was not a 'new concept' brought forward by Central government. He said, "I was Union minister for agriculture for ten years in UPA government. cooperation department was under agriculture ministry n.”

What is Cooperation ministry?

In recent Union Cabinet reshuffle, Centre introduced first-ever Ministry of Co-operation to provide a separate ministrative, legal, and policy framework for Co-operatives. Ministry will work to streamline processes for ‘Ease of doing business’ for co-operatives and enable development of Multi-State Co-operatives (MSCS), said Centre in a press release. Home Minister Amit Shah has been given new ministry, but is yet to take charge.