The Maharashtra government is facing criticism from the Congress party and social activists over alleged extravagant spending during a recent event. The controversy centers around a platinum jubilee meeting of Parliament's Estimates Committee held in Mumbai, where guests were reportedly served meals on silver plates, with each meal costing ₹5,000.

The Maharashtra Congress has accused the state government of splurging on a "lavish" party despite the state facing financial constraints. According to reports, around 600 guests attended the two-day event at Mumbai's Vidhan Bhavan complex, which was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The Congress alleges that the guests were served meals worth ₹5,000 each on silver dinner plates rented for ₹550 each.

Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar has strongly criticized the alleged extravagant spending, questioning the need to serve meals on silver plates when the state is supposedly on the brink of bankruptcy. He also pointed out that while the government is spending lavishly on such events, farmers are being denied loan waivers, bonuses are not being paid to workers, and budget cuts are being implemented for various welfare schemes.

Echoing Wadettiwar's concerns, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal also attacked the Devendra Fadnavis-led government. He questioned whether the funds spent on the event were linked to money previously found in a government guest house in Dhule during a tour by the state estimates committee.

Social activist Kumbhar claimed that the total expenditure on the 600 guests amounted to ₹27 lakh. He described the event as an "extravagant splurge of public money" and criticized the Estimates Committee members for indulging in wasteful spending while simultaneously preaching austerity.

The Estimates Committee, at both the central and state/Union Territory levels, is responsible for evaluating expenditure estimates for each administrative department in respective budgets and scrutinizing the spending of funds.

The controversy has erupted amidst existing concerns about Maharashtra's financial health. The state's debt has soared to ₹7.8 lakh crore, raising alarms within the State Finance Department, particularly regarding the viability of new schemes. The government's decision to continue with the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides a ₹1,500 monthly stipend to underprivileged women, has also drawn criticism due to its significant annual cost of approximately ₹46,000 crore.

Concerns have also been raised about the state government's priorities. Wadettiwar pointed out that Anganwadi workers are not being paid their honorariums on time, and funds for schemes like the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana remain pending. He argued that serving meals on silver plates to committee members while neglecting the needs of the poor is an insult to those struggling to make ends meet.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, whose party is an ally of the Congress, has also criticized the state government over alleged corruption.