On Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended Girish Mahajan.
The Chief Minister Office (CMO) has sought the official detailed report regarding BJP minister Girish Mahajan's controversial land deal.
Rubal Agarwal, Jalgaon collector, told dna on Sunday that she had got a call from the CMO and asked to submit the report. "I will submit the report in next two-three days to the CMO," Agarwal said.
She, however, refused to define the area of report whether it will be only connected with the missing property details in the election affidavit and Mahar Vatan.
dna was the first to expose water resource minister Girish Mahajan's controversial Dalit land grabbing report on June 12. Mahajan had concealed his land details in elections affidavit of 2004, 2009, and 2014. The 4.97 acre of land was brought from the Dalit family at total Rs1.11 lakh in 2002 on the pretext of setting up a sugar mill.
Interestingly, speaking at the BJP state party workers function on Saturday in Pune, chief minister Fadnavis defended Mahajan. "It was questioned how the Mahar vatan land was bought by Mahajan? We told the collector, our government believes in transparency so find out whether this land is Mahar Vatan. If Mahar vatan is there, then the land will be confiscated," Fadnavis said.
Harish Govind Tayade (40), son of Govind Jangalu on whose name land registered in the 7/12 extract, said their land is Mahar vatan land. "Our father is illiterate and he was threatened and forcibly asked to sign on the sale deal. We expect fair decision. Chief minister Fadnavis should protect the Dalit farmer interest, not his minister who grabbed our land forcibly. We are ready to produce the 7/12 extract that has clearly mentioned our family name," Tayade claimed.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said chief minister Fadnavis should conduct a thorough probe of this land deal. "The scope of the report should also include violation of the election code of conduct by Mahajan for not mentioning the property details in the election affidavit. Otherwise, the report will be another eyewash and Fadnavis will use every means to protect to his close cabinet colleague," Malik said.
Malik said that Mahajan has admitted the guilt openly by his decision of giving back the land to Dalit family. "Mahajan has no legal and moral right to stay at the ministry. Fadnavis should sack Mahajan immediately for transparent inquiry of his controversial Dalit land grabbing deal," said Malik.
Sharad Patil, NCP leader from Jamner, the electoral constituency of Mahajan told dna that Mahajan had done only wrong things in his 25 years of political career.
"People are getting confidence after his land scam exposed. Now, they are speaking out. Otherwise, there was undeclared curfew in Jamner. Mahajan had misused his position and slapped the false police complaints against his political opponents. We strongly demand his resignation first, then the fair and impartial probe of all his illegal deeds. The truth will come out," Patil said.
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 "Girish Mahajan")
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