Shiv Sena chief demands probe against Maharashtra ministers accused of graft

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Friday demanded a probe into the allegations of corruption against some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers in Maharashtra's ruling coalition.

Thackeray said in A statement that a probe must be immediately conducted to ascertain the genuineness of the allegations leveled against the ministers and if they are proved true, they must be investigated.

The Shiv Sena chief's statement was published in the party mouthpiece Saamana on Friday and was part of a second interview in the ongoing three-part marathon annual interviews ahead of his birthday on July 27.

The concerned individuals — Women and Children Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde and Education Minister Vinod Tawde -have denied the allegations but Uddhav Thackeray has emphatically sought an independent probe into the allegations.

Thackeray, however, warned that it should not lead to a situation when somebody plays his political games and gets away with it.

"The impartial probe must unravel the truth or the lies, and if those leveling such allegations are proved wrong, then suitable action should be initiated against them," he demanded.

In regard to the allegations faced by Pankaja Munde on 'chikki' scam, he said it must be probed to find out whether (she) had the authority to buy the chikkis without inviting tenders or she is being targeted by rival contractors lobby, and ascertain if the chikki supplied was of proper quality.

Other issues like the status of the Hindutva agenda, the Shiv Sena's strong resolve to capture power next time on its own strength, allegations against some opposition leaders like NCP's Ajit Pawar, relations between the two ruling allies (BJP-SS) and the issue of making farmers debt-free to prevent suicides were also touched upon by Thackeray.

Thackeray's comments came in the backdrop of an ongoing agitation by the Opposition parties demanding action against the ministers facing corruption allegations during the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature which is currently underway.

(With inputs from IANS)