Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant claimed his party was not invited to a meeting today of NDA allies in New Delhi and conveyed its displeasure over the same to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
Another Sena MP, Sanjay Raut, blamed “miscommunication” on part of BJP for his party not attending the meet where Finance Minister Arun Jaitley spoke about the Union Budget that was presented in Lok Sabha yesterday.
“We were neither invited nor informed about the NDA meeting. We were naturally unhappy with this and conveyed our displeasure to Naidu. Since he (Naidu) accepted his mistake, we do not want to make a hue and cry over it,” Sawant said.
Raut said “Naidu has clarified that there was some miscommunication on their (BJP’s) part”.
However, he declined to comment when asked about reports that Sena is opposing the budget proposal to tax Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal and contribution made by employers.
Sena sources said the party has opposed the proposal.
Another BJP ally in Maharashtra, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana, too, spoke against the proposal to tax EPF withdrawals.
“It is the hard-earned money of employees. It should not be taxed. I will raise the issue in the House,” said Sanghtana leader and Lok Sabha MP Raju Shetty.
PTI