Exactly a week after the controversial White Paper on irrigation was tabled in the Maharashtra Cabinet, senior Nationalist Congress Party leader, Ajit Pawar, was again sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on Friday. Governor K. Sankaranarayanan administered the oath of office to Mr. Pawar in the presence of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
“No one had urged me to resign. I did so of my own accord so that my presence as a Minister would in no way influence the White Paper on the irrigation scam,” said Mr. Pawar, remarking that the Opposition would nitpick anyway, even if the government was doing ‘good work.’
Mr. Pawar is yet to be allotted a portfolio and it is expected that he would get one only after the end of the winter session of the legislature.
His return was a fait accompli following the release of the White Paper that virtually gave the NCP leader a clean chit. Mr. Pawar, who resigned from his post dramatically in late September this year, was re-instated with equal suddenness, despite the government failing to make any significant progress in its inquiry into the scam. He had quit his post following allegations of massive irregularities that detailed his granting project approvals totalling Rs. 20,000 crore during an eight-month period without the mandatory clearance of the governing council of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) during his stint as Water Resources Minister between 1999 and 2009.
The White Paper (the handiwork of the Irrigation Department), instead of addressing these issues, was mired in purposeless detail, skirting the corruption plaguing irrigation projects.
The Opposition was vehement in its censure of Mr. Pawar’s comeback after 72 days in the political wilderness.
The BJP called the resignation and the subsequent issue of White Paper as a ‘grand farce from beginning to end’ and ‘a cruel joke on the farmers in the State.’
“If he [Ajit Pawar] has the guts, then he should be ready for a SIT probe. If he is proved innocent, then he should come back into the Cabinet with respect,” said Leader of the Opposition Eknath Khadse, adding it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister had to re-induct Mr. Pawar owing to NCP pressure.
“What court of law has given him [Ajit Pawar] a clean chit… he himself is proclaiming his innocence. It’s a deal cut by the Chief Minister to save his own chair,” said Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.
The Opposition has warned of a massive rally in protest against the White Paper and Mr. Pawar’s re-induction.
Keywords: Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra politics, irrigation scam, Nationalist Congress Party, white paper, political corruptions, Congress-NCP coalition
Waiting for the editorials praising this decision and celebrating the move as the triumph of the secular forces in the country. Media forgot the big fire in Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha building selectively using the Agriculture Ministry wing as its playground and the inordinate delay in fire brigade reaching the site!
Late last evening, NCP gave a statement that INC shouldn't take us lightly on FDI. Next day morning, Mr. Pawar in deputy CM. It all is accounted for now. no concerns for the people, no issue bad\sed debate or support, only benefir based support. That's how the regional selfish parties and their heads have gifted our democracy.
He is playing with emotion of people and now himself will become the
target of Assembly session scheduled at Nagpur. It is clear crystal that
he had adopted corrupt practices during his tenure as Irrigation
Minister. However nowadays this practices become the prestige point and
politician always show that whatever he does, it is in the interest of
the people.
What a shame !! Without disproving serious allegations, restored to public service..
Bravo.. Maha is setting new standards in corruption ..
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