Nagpur: Leader of opposition in Maharashtra assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil on Friday called minister of state Ranjit Patil's decision to waive off Rs155 crore of Maharashtra Rashtrabhasha Sabha dues a "big scam" and called for minister's resignation. The minister had recently reduced the premium and ground rent levies on the Sabha by NIT from Rs 163.75 crore to Rs 8 crore.
Vikhe Patil pointed out that on one hand, the government was facing financial crunch due to massive loan waiver and was levying 2% cess on petrol and diesel while on the other, it was waiving a huge amount of Rs 155 crore owed by a private party. "Patil must answer whether he had consulted the CM before taking this decision. He must take up responsibility," Vikhe Patil said.
"The minister devided even after clear orders from high court. Even Supreme Court had refused relief to the Sabha," he said while initiating discussion on the last week resolution in Assembly.
Highlighting fissures within the ruling party with regard to senior leader Eknath Khadse and inducting Narayan Rane, Vikhe Patil called on the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to appoint either of two as a home minister to stop deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra. Right now Fadnavis holds the home portfolio.
He pulled up the government for failure on all fronts including education and agriculture. He even targeted government at the Centre for its vengeful attitude and misusing the CBI against opposition parties.
"Today's verdict by the Bombay High Court quashing governor C Vidyasagar Rao's nod to prosecute former CM Ashok Chavan in Adarsh case indicates how the government is targeting the opposition. Instead of focusing on deteriorating law and order situation in state, it is misusing agencies like CBI," he said. He said the saffron parties had received similar setback in 2G scam case that was once termed as "mother of all scams".
Flaying the education minister Vinod Tawde for decision to close down over 1,300 schools for low attendance, Vikhe-Patil said the government should have handed the schools to private companies for running them through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. "Are those students going to travel miles for schools. You are now allowing private companies to open English medium schools, why don't you tell them to run these ailing Zilla Parishad schools."
Quoting objections raised by Lokayukt in alleged corruption in SRA project at MP Mills Compound in Mumbai, he questioned the CM on failure to remove housing minister Prakash Mehta. He also asked why same norms were not applied to Khadse and why was he removed hastily.
Citing case of PSI Ashwini Bhindre-Gore, he said the police had failed to track her till date and her case came to fore only after a video of her with senior PI Abhay Kurundkar went viral.
NCP legislator Jayant Patil stated Nagpur was on the top of crime incidents in country. "Dreaded criminals like Santosh Ambekar are still absconding. A BJP MLA goes to jail to celebrate birthday of a goon. There is no trace of Sujal Wasnik, a Kamptee boy missing since three months. The flesh trade in the city is on the rise. It is an alarming situation," he added.
Raising issue of Naxalite violence, he said Gadchiroli was witnessing a spurt in killings and extortion. "Two intruders tried to barge into the room of three women MLAs at midnight. The entire state is on ventilator and needs full time home minister," he said. Patil said the state ranked among the top in cyber crime and crimes against senior citizens.
