After BJP leader Kirit Somaiyya publicly criticised high-profile Housing Minister Sureshdada Jain over the housing scheme, it was Jain's turn to hit back and he did so by halting a proposal mooted by Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde.

Munde, who also holds the energy portfolio, had put forward the revised Power Purchase Agreement between the Reliance and Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) for the 410 MW Patalganga power project before the cabinet members at a special meeting on August 29.

Taking objection to it, Jain urged the Chief Minister to defer the proposal for the next cabinet meeting since he had not read the cabinet note drafted by the Energy Department. Joshi readily agreed to the proposal and accordingly, it was postponed and brought up again at today's cabinet meeting.

Butwhen Jain made the same plea at today's meeting, Munde virtually stalled the cabinet for a while, saying, that since he had not read any of the cabinet notes, all the items of the agenda should be taken up at the next meeting of the cabinet.

Not only BJP Ministers, but a section of the Shiv Sena cabinet members openly came out in support of Munde, saying, such a practice should not be encouraged. Secondly, they also urged the Chief Minister to circulate the cabinet note atleast one day in advance so as to allow Ministers to carefully study them.

Apparently sensing trouble and the possibility of BJP members boycotting the cabinet for a second time, the Chief Minister declined to take note of Jain's plea and took up the proposal moved by Munde.

Meanwhile, Jain looked completey disappointed over the progress of the slumdwellers scheme. ``So far we have met on three occasions, but we have not touched the basic objections raised by the BJP,'' Jain said.

Following objection taken by Somaiyya, Thackeray hadset up a committee comprising Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, Sureshdada Jain, Kirit Somaiyya and Housing Development Corporation Chief Deepak Parekh to review the project and examine the objections raised by BJP.

On the objection raised by the BJP over the tendering system, Jain said for more transparency in the entire process, he was prepared to appoint former Chief Secretary D M Sukthankar, Kirit Somaiyya, Congress leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Madhukar Pichad on the committee.

When his attention was drawn to the objections raised by the State Planning Board headed by BJP leader Prakash Jawdekar, Jain said since the project has been approved by the Cabinet, the highest decision making body, he was not concerned about the views of the planning board.

Referring to the threats received by him and Housing Secretary V P Raja, Jain said it was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, who has enhanced security for him with immediate effect. ``I do not know as to what isthe additional security provided to him. But I am told that the security has been enhanced,'' Jain added.

Munde confirmed that additional security has been provided to Jain following threats to his life. ``Like the security to former Ministers Ganesh Naik, Suresh Navale and Gulabrao Gawande, additional security has been provided to Jain and Raja,'' Munde pointed out.