Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today assured the Legislative Council of verifying the proofs against the "tainted" ministers and taking action against them, in a bid to pacify the Opposition, which has had refused to let the House function for three consecutive days over the issue.
"The ministers have explained their stand on the charges levelled against them. The Leader of the House has answered as well. Yet, the Opposition is unsatisfied with our replies which were based on proofs as well," Fadnavis said.
"However, we are ready to examine all the proofs submitted by the Opposition and verify them. If any truth is found in them, we won't hesitate to take immediate action against the concerned ministers," he said.
The Chief Minister's reply satisfied the Opposition members, who agreed to let the House transact business as per schedule.
The Congress and NCP had not allowed the House to function throughout the week seeking inquiry against the "tainted" ministers under the Commission of Inquiry Act.
"Despite all the proofs submitted against the ministers in the House, the Chief Minister is issuing clean chits to his ministers. Those who are accused of corruption are giving themselves a clean chit because they know the CM will back them despite their wrongdoings," Leader of Opposition in the Council Dhananjay Munde had earlier said.
The House was repeatedly disrupted by the opposition members, who would troop into the Well and shout slogans against the government.
Congress member Sharad Ranpise had sought to know how could those who are accused of irregularities defend themselves and give themselves a clean chit?
"An inquiry should be conducted under Commission of Inquiry Act," he had said.
Members also said that unless the government cedes to their demand of ordering an inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act by a sitting High Court judge, they would not let the House function.
Meanwhile, addressing the the Legislative Assembly, Fadnavis said, "If you (opposition) have new evidence as you claim, please submit it to the government. But desist from making repeated allegations without substantiating your charges," he said.
He was responding to Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil's charge that new evidence has surfaced against Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar, who was inducted as Labour Minister ahead of the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Assembly here.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat said the
issue has already been discussed in the House and as such, no fresh debate could be held on the same, which left the Opposition fuming prompting them to raise slogans against the government. The Assembly was adjourned for 15 minutes.
When the proceedings resumed, Fadnavis said, "If Vikhe Patil has any fresh evidence, he should submit it, or else these allegations will be treated as political charges and will get a similar response."
The Opposition has levelled allegations of irregularities and graft against several ministers, including Pankaja Munde, Girish Bapat, Vishnu Savra, Vinod Tawde, Deepak Sawant and Ravindra Waikar, among others. The legislators had asked for inquiries under the ACB.
