Maharashtra minister Khadse resigns
Mrityunjay Bose MUMBAI, 5 June 2016, DHNS
Amid a series of allegations of corruption and links with Dawood Ibrahim, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse resigned on Saturday.
This has put a dent in the image of the BJP, which had pledged corruption-free governance since Narendra Modi took over in 2014.
Khadse (63), seen as no 2 in the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in the state, had high-profile portfolios like Revenue and Agriculture under him.
Khadse, a strongman from Khandesh region, went to CM Fadnavis' residence on Saturday morning and formally handed over his resignation. Handing it over to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, Fadnavis said, “Eknath Khadseji has demanded an inquiry into the allegations against him. A retired high court judge would be appointed to conduct the inquiry.”
The resignation seemed inevitable when on Thursday Fadnavis went to New Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, and submitted a factual report on the charges against Khadse. On Friday, ally Shiv Sena sought the leader’s resignation. This was echoed by Congress, NCP and AAP, which sought the governor’s intervention. The RSS too was unhappy with the allegations and favoured Khadse’s exit.
However, the party rallied behind Khadse, saying he was a victim of a "media trial" and neither was there an iota of truth in the allegations nor even one page of proof.
"Khadse is one of the seniormost leaders, who played a crucial role in the growth of the BJP. We still believe he has done nothing wrong. The party is solidly behind him," said state BJP chief Raosaheb Patil Danve.
The Congress, however, said a mere resignation would not do and a criminal case should be registered against Khadse.
Retaliating, Khadse said there was no truth in the charges levelled against him, whether it is by Sachin Sawant of the Congress, Anjali Damania of AAP or fishermen's leader Damodar Tandel.
This has put a dent in the image of the BJP, which had pledged corruption-free governance since Narendra Modi took over in 2014.
Khadse (63), seen as no 2 in the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in the state, had high-profile portfolios like Revenue and Agriculture under him.
Khadse, a strongman from Khandesh region, went to CM Fadnavis' residence on Saturday morning and formally handed over his resignation. Handing it over to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, Fadnavis said, “Eknath Khadseji has demanded an inquiry into the allegations against him. A retired high court judge would be appointed to conduct the inquiry.”
The resignation seemed inevitable when on Thursday Fadnavis went to New Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, and submitted a factual report on the charges against Khadse. On Friday, ally Shiv Sena sought the leader’s resignation. This was echoed by Congress, NCP and AAP, which sought the governor’s intervention. The RSS too was unhappy with the allegations and favoured Khadse’s exit.
However, the party rallied behind Khadse, saying he was a victim of a "media trial" and neither was there an iota of truth in the allegations nor even one page of proof.
"Khadse is one of the seniormost leaders, who played a crucial role in the growth of the BJP. We still believe he has done nothing wrong. The party is solidly behind him," said state BJP chief Raosaheb Patil Danve.
The Congress, however, said a mere resignation would not do and a criminal case should be registered against Khadse.
Retaliating, Khadse said there was no truth in the charges levelled against him, whether it is by Sachin Sawant of the Congress, Anjali Damania of AAP or fishermen's leader Damodar Tandel.
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