Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday said there was no question of his resignation over the P.J. Thomas issue. The matter had been raised in the Lok Sabha and what the Prime Minister said was clarified, he told the media.
The answers on this issue would be given in the Lok Sabha, he said on the eve of the State budget session. The Opposition targeted Mr. Chavan after the Prime Minister's statement in Parliament on the appointment of Mr. Thomas as Central Vigilance Commissioner, and demanded his apology and resignation for misleading the people of Maharashtra. Mr. Chavan, however, said the issue was not before the Assembly. Responding to questions on the Opposition's demand for his resignation and apology, Mr. Chavan said he would reply, if at all, in the House.
Asked if he would reconsider the location of the Jaitapur nuclear power project, Mr. Chavan said that as it was a technical issue, scientists would give a better answer. The Jaitapur plant would be in seismic zone 3 and in Japan the projects were built to suit that area. Nuclear power plants were designed to suit the specificities of the region. The Department of Atomic Energy would answer questions on location and other aspects of the project, he said.
On the question of banning the right-wing Sanatan Sanstha, he said: “We will take the correct position as per law.” Action could be taken against any organisation which went against the Constitution.
Last year, the State government ordered an inquiry into a CD, showing how the Pune-based Hasan Ali Khan reportedly dictated the appointment of senior police officials. Mr. Chavan said the preliminary report was ready and would be presented in the House, and following its perusal, further course of action would be decided.
Clarifying on his recent voicing of support for the former Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan, he said the Adarsh Housing Society scam was being probed by a judicial commission as well as the CBI and a person was not a criminal until convicted. The inquiry was in progress and the government could not tell the commission how to conduct an inquiry.
