Handore rejects charges of underworld nexus

Mumbai, Apr 5: Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Chandrakant Handore today rejected charges of alleged underworld nexus when the issue, appearing in today's newspapers, figured in the Legislative Assembly.

''My name figured in an alleged taped conversation between two gangsters. One of them says the other person's work could be done if I am approached. How am I to be blamed for having a nexus with them'', he asked.

Leader of the Opposition Ramdas Kadam raised the issue soon after the Question Hour, through an adjournment notice demanding to know the authenticity of the news report.

He said the name of Minister of State for Home Siddhram Mhetre had also figured in the audio tapes containing conversation of gangster D K Rao with underworld don Chhota Rajan.

Police had also booked Animal Husbandary Minister Anees Ahmed under Atrocities Act and still the government had failed to act against the ministers, Mr Kadam said.

He also claimed that Minister of State for Civil Supplies Baba Siddique had escorted a gangster from a police station to another place.

''Shiv Sena member Prataprao Jadhav wanted to serve a notice on the minister for raising the issue in the House, but Mr Siddique has refused to accept the notice,'' Mr Kadam said.

He criticised the government for failing to act against the ''tainted'' ministers and demanded that the ministers concerned should be sacked and proper inquiry be instituted to probe charges against them.

''When we were in power, we had sacked ministers against whom doubts were raised and instituted probe against them,'' Mr Kadam reminded the Congress-NCP members and said the government has no right to speak about morality in public life.

Mr Nawab Malik (NCP) took objection to the statement that a notice should be served through the Speaker. To which Prataprao Jadhav said it was the Speaker who asked him to hand over the notice to the minister personally.

Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar said he had rejected the adjournment notice.

UNI