Clarify role in CVC affair, BJP tells Prithviraj Chavan

The BJP on Monday came down heavily on Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, saying that it was his duty to clarify to the people of this country his role in the appointment of chief vigilance commissioner PJ Thomas.

“Corruption by the government in Maharashtra and that at the Centre has crossed all tolerable limits. Chavan and his team have no moral right to continue. If they do not step down, we will drive them out,” BJP president Nitin Gadkari said at a massive anti-corruption rally organised at Azad Maidan on Monday to coincide with the first day of the budget session of the Maharashtra assembly.

Top BJP leaders, including Maharashtra BJP convenor Venkaiah Naidu, deputy leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde, state BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar and leader of the opposition in the state assembly Eknath Khadse attended the rally.

Targeting prime minister Manmohan Singh, Naidu said: “He cannot defend himself by saying that he was not aware of the cases against Thomas. If that really was the case, such an ill-informed person has no right to be the prime minister of this country.”

“Chavan, too, cannot escape blame by not replying to queries about Thomas’ appointment. He has to tell the public under whose pressure he cleared the appointment,” he added.