Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that his Government was prepared to order an enquiry into the alleged procurement scam involving Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde, if the Opposition came with evidence that she violated norms in awarding the contracts worth `206 crore.
Fadnavis’ dare to the Opposition came on a day when Pankaja — who is away from the country — contested the allegations against her and said that if the charges against her were proved, she would not only resign as a Minister but would also quit politics.
The CM said that if the Opposition parties (Congress and NCP) furnished evidence for the allegations, he would order an enquiry into the purchases made under the Integrated Child Development Services by the Women and Child Development Ministry.
“If the Opposition says that tenders were not floated and norms were flouted, they should remember that our Government Resolution was issued in April while the purchases were cleared much before that,” he said.
Accusing the Opposition of practising “double standards”, the CM said: “When they (the current opposition) were in power in the previous DF government, they had made purchases through a similar rate contract system. If they are questioning us now, they should also give an explanation for the purchases through a similar system. What they are doing now clearly reflects their double standards”.
Fadnavis said that his government had taken a decision to purchase items worth more than Rs one crore by e-tender on April 17, 2015. “But the purchases made under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) were for the year 2014-15,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pankaja — in a Facebook post — condemned the allegations against her. “My child is not well. My family continues to be under stress owing to my father’s death. I am away on doctor’s advice... When I am away, the Opposition are staging demonstrations in front of our residence where my mother lives... I am prepared to answer all the allegations made against me by the Opposition”.
“...I am innocent. If it is proved that I have defrauded even rupee, I will not only resign from my minister’s post but will also quit politics,” Pankaja said.