Speculation rife about Munde’s Delhi visit amid clamour for resignation

Pune: NCP member and cabinet minister Dhananjay Munde dashed off to Delhi on Wednesday amid the growing demand for his resignation over Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder in Beed.
Speculations are rife that he was to meet Union home minister Amit Shah. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was also in Delhi the same day to participate in BJP's campaign for the upcoming assembly polls.
Munde, who holds the food, civil supplies and consumer protection portfolios, left for Delhi a day after attending the cabinet meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday.
His close associates said he met Union minister for consumer affairs, food, and public distribution Pralhad Joshi in his office on Wednesday.
Munde's associates said he will return on Thursday. The minister said he learned about Fadnavis's visit after he arrived in Delhi.
Interacting with reporters in Delhi, Munde said, "My visit was not political. I had no meetings on the agenda other than the one with Union minister Pralhad Joshi. After taking charge of my department, it was the first time I visited Delhi to meet him over some issues pertaining to my department."
A few days ago, social activist Anjali Damania met deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar where she claimed that she handed over some documents about Munde. She demanded that Pawar get Munde to resign over allegations he is facing in connection with the murder case in Beed district.
On the clamour for his resignation, Munde said, "From Day One of Deshmukh's murder, I have been saying that the culprits involved in the crime should be hanged. As for the opposition's demand, if the chief minister or the deputy chief ministers tell me to resign, I will do so."
(With inputs from Mohammed Akhef)