Gadkari demands resignation of Maha CM over CVC issue

Mumbai, Mar 14: BJP president Nitin Gadkari today demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, for allegedly concealing information during the process of appointment of PJ Thomas as Chief Vigilance Commissioner.

"We have documentary evidence that Prithviraj Chavan (then minister in PMO) did not give information about a report sent by Kerala Government against Thomas....we demand his resignation," Gadkari said while addressing a BJP-organised rally here on the first day of the state legislature's budget session.

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj had opposed the appointment of Thomas. But Chavan did not consider the negative report by the Kerala Government, and he should explain who was pressurising him, Gadkari said.

The BJP president also criticised UPA Government in the Centre for corruption in 2G spectrum allocation, and Commonwealth Games. He also asked Congress to explain Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi's role in Bofors scam, and his connection with the Gandhi family.

With regard to additional collector Yashwant Sonawane murder case, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde, speaking at the rally, held state home minister RR Patil responsible.

He said that home ministry had curtailed the externment of Popat Shinde, the prime accused, prior to the murder.

Munde held the state government responsible for growing number of petrol-, milk-adulteration cases and said the ruling Congress-NCP were protecting the mafia.

"The mafia get support from Mantralaya and that is why they dared to kill an officer like Sonawane," he said.

The BJP leader also demanded action against every politician and Government official involved in Adarsh housing society scam.

BJP's in-charge of the state, Venkaiah Naidu, alleged that ''duplicate'' Congress party was responsible for the influence of mafia in the state.

"There is no original Congress party now. What we see today is a duplicate Congress which is responsible for mushrooming of mafia," Naidu said. Naidu too demanded that Chavan resign over PJ Thomas issue.

PTI