The CM also suggested that the Sena has the option of legal action if the party feels offended.
Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan turned his back on the previous stand regarding allegations of a deal of Rs500 crore between the Shiv Sena and 11 corporates and said that he was misquoted by the media. The CM also suggested that the Sena has the option of legal action if the party feels offended.
Industries minister Narayan Rane had levelled an allegation that the Sena had struck a deal of Rs500 crore with 11 private corporates to oppose the Jaitapur N-plant as they feared that their business prospects will get affected due to the plant. Rane also said that the first installment of the deal was paid to the party.
Chavan, a couple of days ago in Chandrapur, backed his cabinet colleague and said that Rane had the proof to substantiate his claim.
Rane’s allegations and the chief minister’s stand on it miffed Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who dared Chavan to prove the allegations. Thackeray, in the Sena mouth piece, Saamna, wrote that he was ready to relinquish his position as the Sena Supremo if the allegations are proved true or else the chief minister should do away with his chair. Thackeray called the CM ‘dumb’. He has stated that Chavan is the most brainless chief minister he has seen ever and he should not shield Rane.
After the harsh criticism by the Sena chief, Chavan clarified that he was misquoted. “I had said that Narayan Rane claimed to have the proofs against the allegations he levelled towards Sena. I never justified the allegations. I was misquoted by the media,” he added. “And if the Sena feels offended, it has legal options open before it.” He denied any comment upon the personal remarks against him by Bal Thackeray.
Interestingly, home minister RR Patil had said that his department or the police did not have any information about the allegations of the deal between the party and the corporates.
Chief minister Chavan was sworn in as the member of state legislative council after he got elected unopposed three days ago. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee organised a felicitation function at its office at Nariman Point soon after the swearing in on Saturday. While talking to the press after, he clarified on his stand on the allegations.
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