Aaditya Thackeray

Even as the city Bharatiya Janata Party has been targeting ally Shiv Sena by claiming the presence of “mafia raj” in the Sena-controlled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Shiv Sena has hit back saying there was “maaf kiya raj” (Pardoning tainted contractors) in Nagpur civic body.

Mr Thackeray on Friday said that while the BJP was crying hoarse over “mafia raj” in BMC, the tainted contractors have been pardoned and given contracts by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. In his comments made on social media, Mr Thackeray said, “Mumbai mein mafia, Nagpur mein Maaf-kiya.. (In Mumbai there is mafia, in Nagpur everything is pardoned). Contractors blacklisted by BMC get road contracts in Nagpur.”

Nagpur is the hometown of CM Devendra Fadnavis.

The junior Thackeray was referring to allegations by BJP leaders, who have accused Shiv Sena of shielding mafias in the BMC. The BJP has alleged that there are several scams carried out by mafias in the civic body. Following the allegations, the BMC has instituted a probe in the road repair works scam, in which six contractors have been found guilty and were blacklisted.

Meanwhile, the BJP has also kept up the pressure on Shiv Sena. BJP MP Kirit Somaiya has asked BMC chief Ajoy Mehta to probe the allegations of “mafia raj.”

The BJP has dismissed Mr Thackeray’s remarks saying he should get all the facts correct before commenting. BJP spokesman Bhalchandra Shirsat said, “Aditya is too young and he has little knowledge of BMC affairs. He has been given the wrong feedback by his party leaders in the civic body. The blacklisted contractor Aditya is mentioning was given road works in Nagpur almost a year ago, when he had not been proved guilty in the BMC probe.”

BMC, mayor Snehal Ambekar on Thursday had written a letter to Civic chief Ajoy Mehta asking him to probe the allegations.

In his letter the BJP MP has alleged that mafias are operating in 10 alleged scams in the BMC — dumping grounds, roads, desilting, scrap, water, tanker, potholes, octroi, educational tabs and school benches.

“The chief minister has named four special investigation teams/committees to expose mafias in the BMC. Accused contractors and officials in at least four of these scams are facing criminal charges,” he said.