A couple of days after the government launched a crackdown against the oil mafia, the NCP, in a tactical move, has started targeting areas controlled by the Congress.
The public outrage over the brutal killing of additional collector Yashwant Sonawane is yet to subside but the Congress and the NCP, partners in the ruling coalition in the state, are already into a game of one-upmanship.
A couple of days after the government launched a crackdown against the oil mafia, the NCP, in a tactical move, has started targeting areas controlled by the Congress. The party is in charge of the home department which controls the police department.
The police operation has skipped Dhule, Nandurbar, Nashik and Pune, the epicentre of oil mafia operations. These are NCP strongholds. Most of the police action has been in Nanded, Sindhudurg, Sholapur, Latur and Yavatmal, known Congress bastions.
The raids send out the subtle message that the oil mafia is not active in the areas of senior NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal (Nashik), Ajit Pawar (Pune), Ganesh Naik (Navi Mumbai), Sunil Tatkare (Raigad) but is operational in the strongholds of senior Congress leaders Narayan Rane (Sindhudurg), Ashok Chavan (Nanded), Vilasrao Deshmukh (Latur) and Sushil Kumar Shinde (Sholapur), said sources.
Interestingly, both chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar appeared united when they promised tough action against the mafia in the aftermath of the Sonwane killing.
Home minister RR Patil, who had boasted of swift action, is at a loss to explain why none of the big fish has been nabbed even 72 hours after the incident.
Similarly, the government does not have a clear answer on the ways to expose irregularities involving oil companies at JNPT ports.
On Friday, Chavan promised to set up vigilance squads to put brakes on the nexus of the criminals and oil companies that facilitate adulteration and pilferage of petrol and diesel. He has also sought the help of Union petroleum and oil minister Jaipal Reddy.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Madhav Bhandari has termed the raids a futile exercise. “They are conducting raids against small time operators who mix kerosene in petrol in a couple of barrels and make money. Where are the real players who run the petrol pumps?” he asked.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}