``I feel the observations of Thackeray that Maharashtra has lost its premier position in industrial investments and is way behind Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu was based on incomplete and incorrect information,'' he told media persons after the weekly cabinet meeting.

Addressing an Indian Merchants' Chamber meeting on Monday, Thackeray had frankly admitted that fresh investments are going into Andhra Pradesh instead of Maharashtra. Thackeray had also expressed displeasure over the decision of leading industrial houses to shift the Indian Business School to Hyderabad as against their original plan to set it up in Navi Mumbai.

Thackeray had even remarked that AP ChiefMinister Chandrababu Naidu is ``moving like a typhoon' and is considered more efficient than others.Joshi, however, claimed that Maharashtra continues to top not only in domestic investments, but even in foreign direct investments. ``Since there seems to be confusion following Thackeray's statement, I will personally call on him in a day or two to explain him the official status on industrial investments,'' the CM said.

Quoting extensively from surveys conducted by a section of agencies and business magazines, Joshi said during 1991-98, the State has attracted investment of Rs 1,25,006 crore and foreign direct investment during the period was over Rs 20,389 crore.

Joshi said, on occasions, it may appear that Gujarat was leading in industrial investments, but it was owing to its soft policy on chemical and petroleum-based industries. But, apparently, Joshi completely ignored the the report of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) and Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB), which have specificallystated that Maharashtra was lagging behind in industrial investment.

He said the number of Industrial Entrepreneurs Memorandum (IEM), Letter of Intents (LoIs) and Export Oriented Units (EOUs) were the criterion for judging the industrial growth of a state. Where Maharashtra is concerned, he said, during the period from August 1991 to May 1998 the State received 5,819 IEMs, involving total investments to the tune of Rs 107,379 crore, 465 LoIs for projects involving investment totalling Rs 11,374 crore and 497 EOU proposals involving total investment of Rs 6,253 crore. Besides, the State also attracted 1,122 foreign direct investment proposals.

He, however, failed to give statistics on fresh investments coming into the State in fiscal 1996-97 or 1997-98.

The CM said the investment proposals would generate employment for 11,54,233 persons. He said the number of IEM proposals was slightly higher in Gujarat at Rs 118,984 crore because it included many proposals for petroleum and chemical industries.

Whenhis attention was drawn to the shifting of the Indian Business School to Hyderabad, Joshi expressed strong displeasure. He said a section of leading industrialists had approached him for land for setting up the school.

``I agreed to the proposal on the condition that at least 10 seats will be reserved for students from Maharashtra. Later, I dropped the condition and offered them land at Navi Mumbai at a nominal price.'' Subsequently, I came to know that they have decided to set up the institute in Hyderabad. ``I feel that they should have at least informed me of their decision,'' the CM said.