Opposition slams govt over ‘corrupt’ ministers

Mumbai: The Opposition slam-med the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government on the issue of corruption allegations against BJP ministers and officials in the Assembly on Tuesday.

NCP MLA Jayant Patil alleged that Mr Fadnavis is protecting corrupt ministers and officials. Mr Patil demanded the disclosure of the findings of a report by former additional chief secretary K.P. Bakshi, who inquir-ed into allegations aga-inst industry minister Subhash Desai pertaining to de-notifying MIDC land.

Mr Patil asked why the inquiry against housing minister Prakash Me-hta had been delayed. “Is it an attempt to favour the builder MP mill compound SRA project, Tardeo? Mehta had written on the file that he discussed the issue with the CM. However, the CM denied any such discussion,” he said.

The government has not disclosed the inquiry reports against ministers and officials and no action has been taken against them, Mr Patil alleged.

He pointed out that the government organised Make in India, Magnetic Maharashtra to lure investments, while Mr Desai denotified 67,620 acres of land that was acquired for MIDC. Mr Patil alleged that Mr Bakshi had raised serious objections about it.

The NCP leader also said that the state gave farming equipment and aid to ineligible persons, including relatives who are not even farmers. Mr Patil claimed that cooperation minister Subhash Deshmukh ha-d constructed a bungalow on a reserved plot at Solapur and corporation wanted to evict him.