Maharashtra govt exploits divide in Congress, NCP to sail through monsoon session

Fadnavis said, “I am ruling out a judicial probe because there is nothing concrete to establish the violation of rules or financial irregularities. However, my government is not running away from investigation. We have ordered a probe led by the chief secretary and two other officers.”

The leaders of the Opposition in the assembly and council Radhakrihna Vikhe-Patil and Dhananjay Munde may have raked the issue but failed to give an undertaking that their charges of corruption in chikki scam and fake degree was against the respective ministers.

According to agriculture minister Eknath Khadse, “If they had sought a judicial probe they would have had to give an undertaking that their charges against ministers if proved incorrect would also invite action against them.”

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However, Opposition leaders dismissed such pressure tactics from the government as a cover-up operation. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said, “From the very beginning every time we raised corruption charge, the government would threaten to expose scams of Congress-NCP’s 15-year rule. It was a classic example of balancing of blackmail.”

On Friday, both Vikhe-Patil and NCP leader Jayant Patil said, “We still believe Pankaja Munde and Vinod Tawde charges are true.” While Munde is accused of awarding contracts worth Rs 206 crore by allegedly violating rules, Tawde is accused of fake engineering degree.

The weak opposition ensured Fadnavis managed to get his government business through with passage of 18 bills including the important Right to Service Act.

Major policy decisions of the government such as extending Rs 25,000 crore over the next five years to farmers across Maharashtra through loan interest waiver coupled with budget for one lakh wells could not be countered effectively by the Opposition which stuck to its demand for a complete loan waiver.

This too did not work for them as the government countered this stand with facts to show that loan waivers have never worked in the past.

Vikhe-Patil’s threat to expose the government through three video stings (CDs) against ministers, remained just that.

After raising drought debate for two weeks the Opposition decided to corner the government on law and order, as the home portfolio is held by the chief minister. Fadnavis countered every charge with confidence.

“The biggest concern in crime was the low rate of conviction. In last eight months the conviction rate has increased manifold from 9.24 per cent in the past to 32.7 per cent in last eight months. I believe higher conviction rate is only way to effectively address the problems of law and order.”

Fadnavis indicated, “As far as atrocities against women are concerned there would be zero tolerance. Referring to the Jalna rape incident he said nobody however senior in rank or otherwise would be spared of punishment if proven guilty.”

Referring to allegations against him for growing incidence of crime in his home town Nagpur, Fadnavis said, “Ever since I have taken charge, every petty crime in Nagpur has made news. But I would like to assure you I have left no stone unturned to curb the cases of crime.”

He added that order was maintained in the wake of the Yakub Memon execution and also said that the investigation into the murder of Communist leader Govind Pansare has made progress.