Congress’ attempt to make much noise about the “corrupt” ministers in the state Cabinet on Wednesday proved to be a damp squib as it failed to name the ministers and specific charges.
Congress’ attempt to make much noise about the “corrupt” ministers in the state Cabinet on Wednesday proved to be a damp squib as it failed to name the ministers and specific charges.
Speaker of the House Haribhau Bagde asked leader of the Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil to be specific in his allegations and also convey to the ministers that they would be named. It is necessary to send a notice to a House member if any allegation is to be made against him. The other opposition party in the House, NCP, chose to keep mum and did not second Congress’ allegation of corruption.
Mr Vikhe-Patil, who raised the corruption issue, vaguely alleged that a few ministers who were inducted in the recent Cabinet expansion have corruption cases against them. “One of the ministers spoke against the Dalit community. Another is involved in a Rs 36-crore bank scam. A third one has been charged by the CBI in a bank scam,” Mr Vikhe Patil said.
Speaker Mr Bagde reminded Mr Vikhe-Patil that none of the corruption charges he spoke of were proven. Mr Vikhe-Patil immediately alluded to former minister Eknath Khadse who, he said, had to step down after allegations of corruption were made against him. All the Congress members then headed to the Well and started shouting slogans against the government. The House was adjourned once. Taking note of the protest, Mr Bagde asked Mr Vikhe-Patil to be specific. “You will have to be very specific while making a statement. You have not named anyone and if you want to mention names then give prior notice to the members of the House,” he said.
Following the Speaker’s verdict, Congress members preferred to remain silent and stopped their agitation.
