Congress Criticizes Devendra Fadnavis for Misleading FDI Data, Affirms Maharashtra’s Superiority
The Congress party has launched a scathing attack on Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing him of spreading false information about Maharashtra’s foreign direct investment (FDI) rankings. According to state Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant, Maharashtra has consistently been the top recipient of FDI in the country, as per data from the Union Ministry of Industries. Sawant highlighted that between 2000 and 2012, Maharashtra accounted for approximately 33% of all FDI inflows.
Even during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Maharashtra continued to lead the FDI charts. Sawant’s remarks come in response to Fadnavis’ claims that Maharashtra’s FDI ranking suffered during the MVA regime. The MVA government, headed by Uddhav Thackeray, was ousted in June 2022 following a political upheaval, with Eknath Shinde aligning with the BJP to assume the chief minister’s role.
Despite a temporary setback in attracting FDI during the MVA rule, Maharashtra has swiftly reclaimed its top position in the past two years, Fadnavis asserted. Sawant criticized Fadnavis for selectively presenting data only from April 2021 to March 2022, where Karnataka emerged as the frontrunner. He argued that citing Gujarat’s top ranking in FDI from April 2020 to March 2021 would have been more relevant.
Sawant further alleged that the BJP-led central government has shown favoritism towards Gujarat and Karnataka at the expense of Maharashtra, resulting in a shift of FDI inflows in the computer hardware and software industry. Gujarat dominated the FDI landscape in 2020-21, receiving 78% of investments, while Karnataka took the lead in 2021-22 with 53% share.
Questioning the sudden fluctuations in FDI patterns between the two states, Sawant insinuated that the Modi administration’s policies have steered investments away from Maharashtra. He emphasized that sustained support is crucial for Maharashtra to maintain its status as a premier investment destination in the country.
As the computer hardware and software sector continues to evolve, Maharashtra’s resilience and attractiveness to investors remain unwavering, ensuring its enduring appeal in the competitive FDI landscape.
