Oppn should submit proof against 'tainted' ministers instead of making hollow claims: Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the opposition parties should submit proof against the “so-called tainted ministers” in his cabinet, instead of making “hollow claims”.

“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,” Fadnavis said in the state Assembly.

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 in Mumbai.

Vikhe Patil, who raised the issue in the Lower House, said Fadnavis had provided wrong information in the Assembly, while replying to a recent discussion on the ’tainted’ ministers.

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.

This angered the opposition members, who raised slogans against the government. The House 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.”

Vikhe Patil said, “If this government claims to be so transparent, why is the inquiry against tainted ministers not being conducted under the Commission of Inquiry Act.”

Speaker Haribhau Bagade said the opposition should first submit evidence, then only the government can taken appropriate action."

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. Legislators had asked for inquiries under the ACB.