NCP to back Anti-superstition Bill, says MANS president

Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) president Narendra Dabholkar, on Wednesday, claimed that deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has assured him that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will fully support the Anti-superstition Bill in the assembly session. Dabholkar said that even chief minister Prithviraj Chavan should get the bill passed quickly, which is pending for past 17 years.

Speaking to the media, Dabholkar said, “Before the winter session, I held meetings with Chavan, Pawar and other ministers over the bill. During the meeting, Pawar assured me that NCP will give full support to the bill in the assembly session. I feel the chief minister should take a stand on this bill. We are hopeful that the bill will be discussed in this winter session.”

When Dabholkar was asked about the allegation made by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti that he received foreign funds, he rubbished the allegation by saying, “I was invited by the Maharashtra Foundation in America in 2006 where I was given an award of Rs10 lakh. As per our policy, I deposited that amount in an account of the organisation. I have not done anything illegal. The

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is opposing the bill and therefore, they are making such false allegations.”