Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says he uncovered 'extortion racket' in MVA

PUNE: Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday alleged that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, while in power, was running an 'extortion racket'. "Had I not exposed businessman Mansukh Hiren's murder, the MVA would have continued extorting people," he said.
Fadnavis was addressing party workers in Pune at the state BJP executive meeting. He said, "In 2017, when BJP-Shiv Sena was in power, Uddhav Thackeray had sent a proposal to reinstate then suspended police officer Sachin Vaze. Despite pressure on me, I wrote that I would never reinstate him. However, when Thackeray's government came to power, he immediately reinstated Vaze."
Vaze, who has been suspended, is facing a series of charges in the Hiren murder case.
Alleging that Vaze was working at the behest of Thackeray, Fadnavis said, "After returning to the police force, Vaze could be seen either at 'Varsha' (chief minister's official residence) or at Matoshree (Thackeray's home). Had I not exposed Hiren's murder, they (MVA leaders) would have covered up everything. However, as leader of the opposition, I exposed it and uncovered MVA's extortion racket."
Taking a dig at MVA's Vajramuth rally, Fadnavis said that its leaders were taking potshots at each other.
"In his recently launched book, NCP president Sharad Pawar criticized Thackeray's working as chief minister. It is clear that the senior leader has shown a mirror to Thackeray who is projected as the face of the rally," the deputy chief minister said.
On Tahawwur Rana's extradition
Welcoming a US federal court's order to extradite Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin Tahawwur Rana to India in the 26/11 terror attack case, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was happy that Pakistan's involvement in the attack will be known to the world. "It will help declare Pakistan a terror state. At the very least, some sanctions can be imposed on it," he said.
Rana has been accused by India of participating in the planning and execution of the Lashkar terrorist attacks in Mumbai by collaborating with his childhood friend David Coleman Headley, and others. "Headley's statement helped India in this extradition process. It was made possible because of the efforts taken by the Modi government and our National Security Advisor," Fadnavis said.