Ready to face any probe but won't resign, says Pankaja Munde

BJP minister denies charges of irregularities in dam contract

Maharashtra Minister of Woman & Child Welfare Pankaja Munde, who has been accused of being involved in the Rs 206 crore chikki scam and for favouring a contractor in awarding work to building dam, on Wednesday made it once again clear that she has not done anything wrong. Instead, Pankaja, a daughter of BJP veteran late Gopinath Munde, said the allegations levelled against her by the Opposition parties were baseless, politically motivated and to malign her image. At the press conference after her return from London from a short vacation, Pankaja said she was prepared to face any  inquiry but ruled out her resignation at this juncture.

Pankaja, who in her point-by-point rebuttal to the allegations, reiterated that she followed the rate contracts adopted by the previous Congress-NCP government  of clearing contracts worth Rs 206 crore for purchase of a host of items under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). Pankaja is under scanner for reportedly clearing 24 government resolutions on the same day to pave way for the purchase of various items. The alleged scam came to light on June 15 when Pankaja’s office got communication from Ahmednagar Zilla Parishad complaining about the quality of a chikki distributed to tribal students.



She said she had not violated any rules. “During Congress rule, a total purchase of Rs 408 crore of host of items under the ICDS was made on the rate contract basis during 2010-11 and 2014-15. Do I term it a scam?” she asked.

Pankaja’s clarification comes at a time when the Congress has already filed complaint at the State Anti-Corruption Bureau seeking a probe. The ACB has sought papers from the principal secretary of the department of women & child welfare.

 

Further, Pankaja claimed that the opposition had prepared a file of allegations against her and gave it to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the first week of May. She added that the Chief Minister did not find any wrongdoing on her part.



The minister also clarified that she was not alone but the government, the party, senior leaders and her supporters are all with her when targeted by opposition.

Meanwhile, Pankaja also dismissed allegations of irregularities in awarding contract to building dam. She said she did not favour any contractor. Pankaja, who is also minister of rural development and water conservation, said,'' I did not favour any contractor. Ratnakar Gutte is from the NCP, he is known equally to all parties. I did not intervene on his behalf to award contracts for building check dams in Jalna. The allegations are baseless."

However, the opposition Congress, which had earlier accused Pankaja of a nearly 206 crore scam last week over the purchase of school supplies, has demanded her resignation in connection with alleged irregularities in dam awarding contract.