'Meals worth Rs 5,000 each on silver dinner plate': Maharashtra government's Mumbai conclave sparks row

The two-day conference of the Estimates Committees of Parliament and states was held in Mumbai on June 23. (Pic credit: X)

An event hosted by the Maharashtra government has come under the scanner after guests were allegedly served meals worth Rs 5,000 each on silver dinner plates rented for Rs 550 each.

The Maharashtra Congress and social activists have accused the state government of extravagant spending.

“When the state is virtually on the brink of bankruptcy, what was the need to serve meals on silver plates to members of the Estimates Committees in Mumbai,” Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar told reporters in Nagpur.

Wadettiwar alleged that around Rs 5,000 was spent on each guest’s meal, while loan waivers were being denied to farmers, bonuses were not being paid, and budget cuts were made for several welfare schemes.

The two-day conference of the Estimates Committees of Parliament and states was held in Mumbai on June 23. The event, held at Vidhan Bhavan (legislative complex) in south Mumbai, was attended by chairpersons and members of such panels of Parliament, states and Union Territory legislatures. The Estimates Committee reviews and evaluates the budget estimates and expenditure of each administrative department at both the central and state/UT levels.

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal also attacked the state government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“They (Estimates Committee delegation members) feasted on a Rs 5,000 meal served on Rs 550 worth of silver plate each. Was the fund spent linked to the money found in the Dhule government guest house when the state estimates committee was touring?" he asked.

Social activist Vijay  Kumbhar alleged that the event cost Rs 27 lakh for 600 guests. "“Extravagant splurge of public money! Mumbai’s Vidhan Bhavan hosted a lavish feast for Budget Committee members from across India, costing Rs 4,500 per person. Served on silver plates (Rs 550 each), the meal for 600 guests totalled Rs 27 lakh! The same committee preaching austerity indulged in this wasteful display, sparking public outrage," he wrote in a long post on X.

According to  Kumbhar, with 40-foot banners, stays at Taj Palace and Trident, AC dining tents, chandeliers, and red carpets, "this was a royal mockery of taxpayers’ money!"