The Maharashtra CM said he was ready for a debate on the issue in the Budget session of the Assembly
Dismissing the allegations that Maharashtra Government is shielding those involved in corruption, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said he was ready for a debate on the issue in the Budget session of the Assembly, beginning Thursday.
"There is no question of doing so. The cases are in the hands of police and the court. Government has nothing to do with them," Chavan told reporters after hosting the customary tea party on the eve of the six-week Budget session.
He was replying to the Opposition's charge that the state government was protecting former Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh in the disproportionate assets case and those involved in the Adarsh Housing scam.
When asked about the high court castigating the government for not taking action against serving bureaucrats involved in the Adarsh scam, Chavan said the government would examine what the High Court has said and expects from it.
"Whatever the court has directed the government would follow," he said.
The chief minister said that his government was open to a debate on the issues of corruption provided the Opposition does not disrupt legislative business.
Replying to a query on the transfer of Indu Mill land for erecting the memorial of Dalit icon Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Chavan said the Centre has set up a committee, comprising union and state government officials, headed by Union Textile Secretary, after his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"The Maharashtra component of the committee has already met twice to discuss the compensation to be given to the National Textile Corporation for the land. The union textile secretary has convened a meeting on March 22 in this regard," he said.
On erecting statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian sea, deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the project is awaiting environmental clearance to take off.
"We are looking at a new place off the Arabian sea. Myself and the Chief Minister will do an aerial survey of the shortlisted site soon," he said.
Meanwhile, replying to a question on non-implementation of Rs2000 crore package announced for Vidarbha farmers, Chavan said the election code of conduct for local bodies elections delayed the work of listing the beneficiaries.
"Rs300cr have already been disbursed and the remaining amount would be budgeted in the supplementary demands," he added.
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