NCP accuses Modi government of conspiring to shift Mumbai Port Trust operations to Gujarat

Opposition NCP on  accused the Narendra Modi-led government at Centre of "conspiring" to shut down operations at the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) in a bid to shift all business to Kandla Port in Gujarat.

MPT chairman Ravi Parmar also holds the additional charge of Kandla Port and recently the prime minister had called Parmar and the board of directors of MPT to Delhi for discussions in which Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari was not present, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said. "We are yet to know the details of the meeting," he told reporters here.

Malik said Gadkari has spoken of commercial redevelopment of 1800 acres of MPT land. "If this continues, the port will close down and all operations will go to Gujarat," the NCP leader said, adding the party would oppose any such move tooth and nail.