The Opposition Congress on Monday demanded the resignations of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Excise Minister Eknath Khadse over the Malad hooch tragedy, even as the toll in the killer brew incident rose to 102.While Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam demanded Fadnavis’ resignation over the hooch tragedy, leader of Opposition in Maharashtra legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said that Khadse should own up moral responsibility and put in his papers.
Talking to media persons at the city Congress headquarters, Nirupam said: “It is ironical that a time when the victims in the hooch tragedy continued to die at various Mumnbai Hospital, the Chief Minister was busy performing yoga at Nagpur. The State Government is not at all sensitive about the hooch tragedy. Hence, Fadnavis should tender resignation from his post forthwith accepting his moral responsibility for the incident”.Taking exception to the Chief Minister holding the State Home portfolio Nirupam said: “The Home portfolio is too important portfolio to be handled by the Chief Minister. There should be a separate Ministry to handle home portfolio”.
Nirupam said that mere suspension of police personnel would not help, the State Government should also suspend Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and Assistant Commissioners’ of Police (ACPs).his separate interaction with the media, Vikhe—Patil -- who met the family members of the victims – lamented that the Chief Minister was yet to visit the bereaved families of the hooch tragedy victims and sand this reflected the “apathy” of the State Government over loss of nearly 100 lives in the liquor tragedy.
“The loss of lives is due to the negligence of the Shatabdi Hospital run by the municipal corporation,”Vikhe Patil said.Meanwhile, informed official sources said that the state Government was contemplating invoking the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug Offenders and Dangerous Persons Act (MPDA) to combat the menace of illicit liquor.
After a meeting with the Excise department officials, Khadse said: “In the past, the Government had invoked provisions of MCOCA against sand mafia and also MPDA. We need to take similar action is needed in tackling the illicit liquor mafia
Khadse said that the measures that his department planned to take included seizure of equipment and sealing of the premises. “Since January this year, 117 raids have been conducted in Malad and nearby areas in suburban Mumbai.Several people have been arrested. But, they have been let off on bail of `2,000. The need of the hour is to make stringent laws,” he said.