The BJP leadership in Maharashtra today threw its weight behind Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse amid a growing perception that the senior leader is getting isolated in the party in the wake of AAP's charge that he received calls on his mobile phone from underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's house in Pakistan.
Interestingly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had yesterday defended Khadse on the issue, saying the AAP's charge is "unsubstantiated".
Dispelling the perception that the saffron party in Maharashtra is becoming a divided house, state unit BJP president Raosaheb Danve said the BJP is a structured party and its members believe in collective responsibility.
"Levelling allegation is the job of opposition and they are doing it. But I think that the opposition should be careful and graceful while levelling the allegations. In Khadse's case, not only Mumbai Police but the ACB (anti-corruption bureau) has also given a clean chit to him in the (Dawood) phone call case and bribery case," Danve told reporters on the sidelines of the BJP representatives' meet at Dadar in Central Mumbai.
Opposition had recently targeted Khadse after his 'personal assistant' was arrested by ACB for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 30 crore from an entrepreneur in a land settlement matter handled by Khadse's department.
"We also made allegations and demanded action against so many ministers, but all those were corroborated by the documentary evidences. But, our opposition (parties) are levelling baseless allegations," Danve said against the backdrop of the allegations levelled by the AAP spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon against Khadse.
Preeti had on Saturday sought Khadse's removal from the Maharashtra Cabinet, alleging that calls were made from Dawood's mansion to Khadse's mobile phone, a charge which the minister rubbished as "baseless" saying the phone number mentioned was not in use for last one year.
When asked why bill for the phone number was generated in last month, Danve said, "This is very common (knowledge) that every phone (number) comes with a plan and you have to pay the minimum charge irrespective of whether you use the phone or not".
The BJP chief also dismissed reports that Khadse has become the victim of internal politics in the BJP as he is viewed as the political rival of Fadnavis.
"Our BJP is a well-defined and structured party. Our people do not have such scope (of targeting each other) and believe in collective responsibility," he said.
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Meanwhile, on the BJP-led government in Centre completing two years, Khadse said the party's state unit would reach out to the public and raise awareness on the transformation taking place under the Modi dispensation.
Danve said, "Our leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would kickstart a campaign to reach out to every (member of) public and brief them about the achievements in last two years."
"Under this massive campaign which will last until June 15, our elected, selected and nominated representatives, including central and state ministers along with the district-level party workers and office bearers, would go to the public and explain them about the achievement of the Modi government in two years," the BJP state chief said.
He said around 123 MLAs and 23 MPs of BJP, including Union ministers, are already touring the state to take the stock of drought situation as well developmental works being envisaged by the central government.
To a query on what the Maharashtra government has been doing to ensure proper monetary return to onion farmers, who are selling their produce at throwaway prices, Danve said, "Our Food and Civil Supply Minister has held meetings with central ministry and they have agreed to buy the onions at fair prices.
