Sena-BJP demands resignation from Mhetre and Anees Ahmed

Mumbai, Mar 10 (UNI) Shiv Sena-BJP alliance has demanded the resignations of state Animal Husbandry Minister Anees Ahmed and Minister of State for Home Siddhram Mhetre in the wake of allegations levelled against them.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, reacting to the allegation that his deputy was facing, said he was seeking information about the whole episode and would not make any comment till he got a clear picture.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramdas Kadam and BJP's state unit general secretary Vinod Tawade sought Mr Mhetre's resignation at separate press conferences here this evening.

However, Mr Mhetre, whose name has cropped up in taped conversation between D K Rao with underworld don Chhota Rajan, with the former claiming to have got suspension of certain jail officials in Nashik revoked following meeting with the minister, said there was no question of his resigning from the ministry.

Mr Mhetre said that he would find out as who distributed the two-page transcript of the tapped conversation to the media. He further said he would also conduct an inquiry inyo the whole episode.

Mr Mhetre put up a brave front saying that he was not at all responsible in revoking the suspension of jail officers.

He also said the conversation mentions many other names also and said the gangsters many times use the names of big personalities to show their clout and to threaten others.

Mr Kadam told reporters that the Sena would demand resignation of Mr Anees Ahmed and that of Mr Mhetre and raise this issue in the budget session of the State Legislature.

A complaint was filed against Mr Ahmed by Congress MLA Nitin Raut's personal assistant Babali Meshram charging Mr Ahmed with hurling casteist remarks against him when he had gone to the district collector's office yesterday.

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