Charging the Maharashtra Government with running a "Collecting Money from Police (CMP) programme," the BJP on Thursday demanded an immediate resignation of the Uddhav Thackeray Government which is facing heat following the arrest of police officer Sachin Waze. Waze is accused of extorting money at the behest of Ministers in the State Government.
Addressing a Press conference here Union Minister, Prakash Javadekar, said one month back Chief Minister and Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut were defending Waze so that he doesn't spill the beans but now since he has sent a letter to the High Court, the tone of Shiv Sena leaders have also changed and have now started attacking Vaze .
Javadekar said Vaze has accused former State Home Minister Anil Desmukh of seeking extortion of 3 lakh each from 1,650 Mumbai restaurants and bars and similarly another Minister Anil Parab of demanding Rs 50 crore for the 'redevelopment' of Bhindi Bazar and also a protection money of two crore each from 50 contractors.
Javadekar said Gutka racket that should have been busted was again asked to pay Rs 100 crore.
" It is a total loot nothing else..aur kuch hai hi nahin..", said Senior BJP leader demanding immediate resignation of the Thackeray-led government.
Javadekar, however, did not attack NCP leaders in the Shiv Sena-led dispensation.
He said Sena had betrayed the mandate given by the people in the assembly polls as the verdict was for the BJP- Sena and not for the current Sena-NCP-Congress government.
"Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is actually a "Maha Vasooli Aghadi", said Javadekar.
"In the last 30 days, such turmoil is happening in Maharashtra, that it is hard to keep track. It is clear that Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is actually 'Maha Vasooli Aghadi'. Its common minimum program is to collect money through the police," Javadekar said.
He further said that the controversy "showed the character" of the ruling alliance in the state. "Shiv Sena and its government need to answer several questions - What is your common minimum program? Apart from loot, what is going on under your governance? The entire Sachin Waze and Home Minister controversy shows the character of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra. They have no right to remain in power. I demand their resignation," said the BJP leader who also hails from Maharashtra.
Waze, a former Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) who was in charge of the Mansukh Hiran death case, is in NIA custody, for his alleged role and involvement in placing the explosives-laden vehicle outside the residence of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani. Hiran, the owner of the vehicle that was found containing explosives materials outside Anitilia, was found dead on March 5 in Thane.
On the charge that the Centre was not supplying adequate anti- coronavirus vaccine does to the state, Javadekar said the "state has 23 lakh does daily as of now which needs to be distributed across the state..the state government is not doing it's job and blaming us" , he said adding " they have already wasted 5 lakh vaccine does.".