The Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party opposition grouping today strongly pressed their demand in the state legislature for a special investigation team (SIT) to inquire into the multi-crore irrigation scam. They have already rejected the government's position paper (‘White Paper’) on the sector, countering it by issuing a ‘Black Paper’.
The opposition had contested the government's claim in the White Paper that irrigation potential rose by 28 per cent and not a mere 0.1 per cent as observed by the Economic Survey, between 1999 and 2009 after spending ~70,000 crore.
The ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party coalition put on a brave show and attacked the opposition for raising the issue without using the proper legislative rules. NCP spokesman Shashikant Shinde told Business Standard: “The opposition was not at all serious on discussing several issues related to the Vidarbha region; instead, it wants to disturb the legislative proceedings by raking non-serious issues. The government is prepared to face the opposition's attack.”
Eknath Khadse, leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly, insisted a comprehensive SIT probe was essential, as the White Paper had not touched upon the irregularities and alleged nexus between contractors, ministers and government employees.
His counterpart in the legislative council, Vinod Tawde, said the entire opposition was united on the formation of an SIT to probe the scam. “We will not allow other business to take place in the state council till the government agrees to our demand,” he said.
The assembly proceedings were completed amid slogan shouting when the opposition pressed its SIT demand. Presiding officer Nawab Malik rejected it, saying such a subject could not be raised without a proper notice, and completed the day’s business.
An earlier no-confidence motion moved by the Shiv Sena against the government on the scam and related issues had lapsed, announced Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil earlier. He said he’d received the notice on November 27 and it was necessary for the party moving it to press for taking it up within two days since the beginning of the session, with the support of a certain number of numbers (29 in this case). As this hadn’t been done, the motion had lapsed. It gave an opportunity to the ruling parties to jeer at the opposition for its lack of unity and organisation in this regard.
