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<div class='ite_mg_banner ads__container'><div class='it_mg_bnrBox'><div class='ite_bnr_cont'><div class='ite_cont_dtl'> <h4>Get <span class='bold_text'>37%</span> off on an annual Print +Digital subscription of India Today Magazine</h4><a href='https://subscriptions.intoday.in/indiatoday?utm_source=top-web-banner ' class='ite_subscribe_btn origin_conscent_url' target='_blank'>SUBSCRIBE</a></div></div></div></div>

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<div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><amp-img  src="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/sites/media2/indiatoday/images/stories/1981September/antu-1_110413095942.jpg" alt = "" height="425" width="650" class="" layout="responsive"></amp-img></div>Antulay: I am susshe is not going to oblige those who want me to be out of office.</div><i>Abdul Rehman Antulay, 52, the flamboyant chief minister of Maharashtra, has always been involved in controversy ever since he took office in June 1980. In the absence of any powerful local support, he has always tried to project himself as the most dynamic and result-oriented chief minister Maharashtra has ever had.<br><br>In the process he claims to have taken 150 policy decisions during his 15 months in office - a new decision every third day. While many of Antulay's innovations for improving the 'lot of the poor remain on paper so far, the one which has been implemented with startling speed is filling the coffers of the various trusts launched by him. Ironically, the Indira Gandhi Pratibha Pratishthan, one of the most publicised trusts, is the cause of his current political discomfiture. Suddenly, Antulay, who was flirting with the press till last fortnight, chose to close the door on it.<br><br>He called a press conference in New Delhi, but made a hasty exit soon after reporters started asking searching questions about his trusts. However, despite his continual parleys with Central leaders and state government officials, Antulay was tracked down by Correspondent </i>Prabhu Chawla<i> for a series of exclusive interviews which started in New Delhi's Maharashtra Sadan before the story regarding his trust broke. In conversations spread over four hours Chawla spoke to Antulay at his residence, Bombay's Santa Cruz Airport, in Antulay's official car and the chief minister's chamber in the newly constructed Vidhan Sabha building. Excerpts:<br></i><b><br>Q. <i>Is it a fact that you have collected huge amounts of money for various trusts floated by you since you became chief minister of Maharashtra?</i><br>A.</b>Yes. I have taken money through cheques for public charitable purposes.<br><br><b>Q<i>. Is it not wrong on the part of the chief minister to collect funds for trusts which are not government trusts?</i><br>A.</b>All the trusts floated by me and other people are covered by Bombay Public Trust Act. Moreover, people who operate under the table do not start trusts and collect money through cheques, and issue receipts. In each trust, there are people of unimpeachable integrity and they enjoy respectability in society. And among the donors are people from various walks of life like industrialists, agriculturalists and common people.<br><b><br>Q. <i>There are big companies too?</i><br>A. </b>Yes. Some of the big companies have made donations for the trusts.<br><br><b>Q. <i>It is alleged that people have donated money in return for the favours they got from your government.</i><br>A. </b>Actually the truth is that nothing has been given to any of the donors to which they were not otherwise legally entitled.<br><br><b>Q. <i>How many trusts did you start?</i><br>A.</b>In all there are six trusts - Indira Pratibha Pratishthan, Konkan Unnati Mitra Mandal, Raygadh Pratishthan, Ambet Pratishthan, Srivardhan Pratishthan and Mhasia Taluka Pratishthan. Members of all these trusts have been chosen from backward and economically weaker sections of society.<br><br><b>Q. <i>How much money have you collected for your trusts?</i><br>A.</b>Indira Pratibha Pratishthan has received donations of over Rs 5 crore so far. But the expenses of this Pratishthan do not exceed Rs 13,000.<br><br><b>Q. <i>What about the other trusts?</i><br>A. </b>That information is not in Delhi. I will give it to you in Bombay.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Where was the need for starting these trusts?</i><br>A.</b>No one so far thought about doing something for the intellectual classes - the journalists, the authors, artistes, dancers, writers, etc. I thought: let me do something for them. So the idea of starting Indira Gandhi Pratibha Pratishthan occurred to me. Mind you, Maratha Sahitya Sammelan has passed a congratulatory resolution saying that here is a man who is using his prestige for the welfare of those who have so far been ignored.<br><b><br>Q. <i>You could have helped them through the state Government?</i><br>A.</b>I was toying with the idea ever since I became chief minister but these ideas were destroyed by bureaucrats. One thing I must tell you and I should not be misunderstood for that. Rajas and Maharajas were feudal lords and exploiters but one thing was good about them, they promoted art and culture. One cannot govern in the same manner, therefore I decided to form some trusts.<br><b><br>Q. <i>When did you start fund-collection?</i><br>A.</b>I had announced a year ago that I would collect Rs 3 crore from the public for the Pratishthan and no one objected to it at that time. Moreover, each major donation has been publicised by the trust through newspapers and television.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Would you have succeeded in raising such a huge amount if you were not the chief minister?</i><br>A.</b>You are right. If I were not the chief minister nobody would have given me Rs 5,000. I have always believed that the power, prestige and resources of the state should always be used for raising resources for the poor people who have provided these things to me.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Were you aware of the implications of a fund-raising campaign launched by you as chief minister?</i><br>A. </b>Do not think that I am a damn fool and am not aware of the implications. People were willing to give me donations under the table but I flatly declined.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Can you list at least the important achievements of your government during the last 14 months you have been in office?</i><br>A. </b>I think it is not for me to say this. It is not correct for a chief minister to praise himself. I think the best course would be for you to choose places to visit in the state. I can arrange the transport for you because it is difficult to reach certain rural areas. Talk to the people for a week, two weeks or a month and if you feel that I have not done anything for the people then say, Antulay, this is the punishment for you - I will accept it. I am clear in my conscience.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Do you think that the recent episode will affect your political future? Is Mrs Gandhi angry with you?</i><br>A.</b>I am sure that she is not going to oblige those who want me to be out of office. They want me to be out because they know that I am a blind follower of Mrs Gandhi and effectively functioning as chief minister.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Did you inform Mrs Gandhi about the activities of all the trusts under your control?</i><br>A.</b>No, I never informed her about the other trusts. She never interferes with the day-to-day functioning of chief ministers.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Did she agree at any stage to lend her name to the Pratibha Pratishthan?</i><br>A.</b>No, She only agreed to bless the Pratishthan. But whenever I met her I requested her to agree to name the Pratishthan as Indira Gandhi Pratishthan.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Is it correct that she agreed ultimately when she wrote the last letter to you?</i><br>A.</b>In fact, it is the contrary.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Can you show her last letter?</i><br>A.</b>There is no question of showing the letter. She has constantly been saying that there is no question of lending her name to the Pratishthan.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Since you claim to he an effective chief minister, do you think that by raising this fund-collection question, your opponents are trying to divert your attention?</i><br>A.</b>Certainly. Not only do they want to divert my attention but they want to demolish me completely. Tell me, have the skies fallen if I have collected the money by account payee cheques and the monies are credited? I am prepared to render the account of each paisa that I have collected so far. All trusts are registered under the Act and for the objects which are laudable. I really do not know why there's so much furore over it and why so suddenly. Why didn't they do it during the past one year when I invited the suggestions for improving the functioning of these trusts?<br><b><br>Q.<i> Why are you keeping the accounts of other trusts so secret?</i><br>A.</b>I am not keeping them secret. I will show you all the accounts immediately.<br><b><br>Q. <i>How is it that of all the trusts, Indira Gandhi Pratibha Pratishthan has been mentioned in all the Government publications?</i><br>A.</b>Because for the first time in Maharashtra, some good thing was attempted to be done for the artistes. I have always been saying that authority of the state should be harnessed in the interest of the poor people.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Do you intend converting these trusts into government trusts or making provision that the chief minister, whosoever he is, will be its ex-officio chairman like it is in the case of the Nehru Centre?</i><br>A.</b>That is like putting dust in the eyes of the people. I am going to defend it.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Do you maintain that the constitution of your trust which gives you absolute authority is alright?</i><br>A.</b>I had asked for suggestions. Do you think, for God's sake, that I could see every paper in detail? A chief minister cannot scrutinise all the details.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Do you find yourself reassured after the whole incident?</i><br>A.</b>Actually, I have always felt reassured because assurance comes from within. It may not be out of place to tell you that there have been much more serious charges against me. When I was a minister, the Maharashtra Assembly debated over me for hours. In the no confidence motion against the Government the single target made was A.R. Antulay. The charges against me were that I carried smuggled goods from one place to another. That was smuggling. People of Maharashtra never believed that and they don't believe it even now. I challenge them to go to the people in Maharashtra and they will see their fate sealed. The people know that I am for the poor.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Do you have any regrets at all about the fund collection?</i><br>A.</b>I have no regrets except one and that is today our moral and political values are so low that we don't have a real perception and imagination of any of the schemes which inevitably the administration wants to sponsor, not-through the Government but through the individuals manning the Government.<br><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Nov 4, 2013 09:55 IST</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div>

cover-story

Cover Story

<div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><img  title=""  class="" alt="" src="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/sites/media2/indiatoday/images/stories/1981September/antu-1_110413095942.jpg" loading="lazy" /></div>Antulay: I am susshe is not going to oblige those who want me to be out of office.</div><i>Abdul Rehman Antulay, 52, the flamboyant chief minister of Maharashtra, has always been involved in controversy ever since he took office in June 1980. In the absence of any powerful local support, he has always tried to project himself as the most dynamic and result-oriented chief minister Maharashtra has ever had.<br><br>In the process he claims to have taken 150 policy decisions during his 15 months in office - a new decision every third day. While many of Antulay's innovations for improving the 'lot of the poor remain on paper so far, the one which has been implemented with startling speed is filling the coffers of the various trusts launched by him. Ironically, the Indira Gandhi Pratibha Pratishthan, one of the most publicised trusts, is the cause of his current political discomfiture. Suddenly, Antulay, who was flirting with the press till last fortnight, chose to close the door on it.<br><br>He called a press conference in New Delhi, but made a hasty exit soon after reporters started asking searching questions about his trusts. However, despite his continual parleys with Central leaders and state government officials, Antulay was tracked down by Correspondent </i>Prabhu Chawla<i> for a series of exclusive interviews which started in New Delhi's Maharashtra Sadan before the story regarding his trust broke. In conversations spread over four hours Chawla spoke to Antulay at his residence, Bombay's Santa Cruz Airport, in Antulay's official car and the chief minister's chamber in the newly constructed Vidhan Sabha building. Excerpts:<br></i><b><br>Q. <i>Is it a fact that you have collected huge amounts of money for various trusts floated by you since you became chief minister of Maharashtra?</i><br>A.</b>Yes. I have taken money through cheques for public charitable purposes.<br><br><b>Q<i>. Is it not wrong on the part of the chief minister to collect funds for trusts which are not government trusts?</i><br>A.</b>All the trusts floated by me and other people are covered by Bombay Public Trust Act. Moreover, people who operate under the table do not start trusts and collect money through cheques, and issue receipts. In each trust, there are people of unimpeachable integrity and they enjoy respectability in society. And among the donors are people from various walks of life like industrialists, agriculturalists and common people.<br><b><br>Q. <i>There are big companies too?</i><br>A. </b>Yes. Some of the big companies have made donations for the trusts.<br><br><b>Q. <i>It is alleged that people have donated money in return for the favours they got from your government.</i><br>A. </b>Actually the truth is that nothing has been given to any of the donors to which they were not otherwise legally entitled.<br><br><b>Q. <i>How many trusts did you start?</i><br>A.</b>In all there are six trusts - Indira Pratibha Pratishthan, Konkan Unnati Mitra Mandal, Raygadh Pratishthan, Ambet Pratishthan, Srivardhan Pratishthan and Mhasia Taluka Pratishthan. Members of all these trusts have been chosen from backward and economically weaker sections of society.<br><br><b>Q. <i>How much money have you collected for your trusts?</i><br>A.</b>Indira Pratibha Pratishthan has received donations of over Rs 5 crore so far. But the expenses of this Pratishthan do not exceed Rs 13,000.<br><br><b>Q. <i>What about the other trusts?</i><br>A. </b>That information is not in Delhi. I will give it to you in Bombay.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Where was the need for starting these trusts?</i><br>A.</b>No one so far thought about doing something for the intellectual classes - the journalists, the authors, artistes, dancers, writers, etc. I thought: let me do something for them. So the idea of starting Indira Gandhi Pratibha Pratishthan occurred to me. Mind you, Maratha Sahitya Sammelan has passed a congratulatory resolution saying that here is a man who is using his prestige for the welfare of those who have so far been ignored.<br><b><br>Q. <i>You could have helped them through the state Government?</i><br>A.</b>I was toying with the idea ever since I became chief minister but these ideas were destroyed by bureaucrats. One thing I must tell you and I should not be misunderstood for that. Rajas and Maharajas were feudal lords and exploiters but one thing was good about them, they promoted art and culture. One cannot govern in the same manner, therefore I decided to form some trusts.<br><b><br>Q. <i>When did you start fund-collection?</i><br>A.</b>I had announced a year ago that I would collect Rs 3 crore from the public for the Pratishthan and no one objected to it at that time. Moreover, each major donation has been publicised by the trust through newspapers and television.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Would you have succeeded in raising such a huge amount if you were not the chief minister?</i><br>A.</b>You are right. If I were not the chief minister nobody would have given me Rs 5,000. I have always believed that the power, prestige and resources of the state should always be used for raising resources for the poor people who have provided these things to me.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Were you aware of the implications of a fund-raising campaign launched by you as chief minister?</i><br>A. </b>Do not think that I am a damn fool and am not aware of the implications. People were willing to give me donations under the table but I flatly declined.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Can you list at least the important achievements of your government during the last 14 months you have been in office?</i><br>A. </b>I think it is not for me to say this. It is not correct for a chief minister to praise himself. I think the best course would be for you to choose places to visit in the state. I can arrange the transport for you because it is difficult to reach certain rural areas. Talk to the people for a week, two weeks or a month and if you feel that I have not done anything for the people then say, Antulay, this is the punishment for you - I will accept it. I am clear in my conscience.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Do you think that the recent episode will affect your political future? Is Mrs Gandhi angry with you?</i><br>A.</b>I am sure that she is not going to oblige those who want me to be out of office. They want me to be out because they know that I am a blind follower of Mrs Gandhi and effectively functioning as chief minister.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Did you inform Mrs Gandhi about the activities of all the trusts under your control?</i><br>A.</b>No, I never informed her about the other trusts. She never interferes with the day-to-day functioning of chief ministers.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Did she agree at any stage to lend her name to the Pratibha Pratishthan?</i><br>A.</b>No, She only agreed to bless the Pratishthan. But whenever I met her I requested her to agree to name the Pratishthan as Indira Gandhi Pratishthan.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Is it correct that she agreed ultimately when she wrote the last letter to you?</i><br>A.</b>In fact, it is the contrary.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Can you show her last letter?</i><br>A.</b>There is no question of showing the letter. She has constantly been saying that there is no question of lending her name to the Pratishthan.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Since you claim to he an effective chief minister, do you think that by raising this fund-collection question, your opponents are trying to divert your attention?</i><br>A.</b>Certainly. Not only do they want to divert my attention but they want to demolish me completely. Tell me, have the skies fallen if I have collected the money by account payee cheques and the monies are credited? I am prepared to render the account of each paisa that I have collected so far. All trusts are registered under the Act and for the objects which are laudable. I really do not know why there's so much furore over it and why so suddenly. Why didn't they do it during the past one year when I invited the suggestions for improving the functioning of these trusts?<br><b><br>Q.<i> Why are you keeping the accounts of other trusts so secret?</i><br>A.</b>I am not keeping them secret. I will show you all the accounts immediately.<br><b><br>Q. <i>How is it that of all the trusts, Indira Gandhi Pratibha Pratishthan has been mentioned in all the Government publications?</i><br>A.</b>Because for the first time in Maharashtra, some good thing was attempted to be done for the artistes. I have always been saying that authority of the state should be harnessed in the interest of the poor people.<br><br><b>Q. <i>Do you intend converting these trusts into government trusts or making provision that the chief minister, whosoever he is, will be its ex-officio chairman like it is in the case of the Nehru Centre?</i><br>A.</b>That is like putting dust in the eyes of the people. I am going to defend it.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Do you maintain that the constitution of your trust which gives you absolute authority is alright?</i><br>A.</b>I had asked for suggestions. Do you think, for God's sake, that I could see every paper in detail? A chief minister cannot scrutinise all the details.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Do you find yourself reassured after the whole incident?</i><br>A.</b>Actually, I have always felt reassured because assurance comes from within. It may not be out of place to tell you that there have been much more serious charges against me. When I was a minister, the Maharashtra Assembly debated over me for hours. In the no confidence motion against the Government the single target made was A.R. Antulay. The charges against me were that I carried smuggled goods from one place to another. That was smuggling. People of Maharashtra never believed that and they don't believe it even now. I challenge them to go to the people in Maharashtra and they will see their fate sealed. The people know that I am for the poor.<br><b><br>Q. <i>Do you have any regrets at all about the fund collection?</i><br>A.</b>I have no regrets except one and that is today our moral and political values are so low that we don't have a real perception and imagination of any of the schemes which inevitably the administration wants to sponsor, not-through the Government but through the individuals manning the Government.<br><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Nov 4, 2013 09:55 IST</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div>

Abdul Rehman Antulay, the flamboyant chief minister of Maharashtra, has always been involved in controversy ever since he took office in June 1980. In the absence of any powerful local support, he has always tried to project himself as the most dynamic and result-oriented chief minister Maharashtra has ever had.

India Today

I have no regrets: Antulay - India Today

The people know that I am for the poor: Antulay

I have no regrets: Antulay

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The people know that I am for the poor: Antulay

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