Nagpur : To facilitate the smooth working of the State legislature, the Congress-NCP ruled government might announce a judicial inquiry into the irrigation scam.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has hinted at this and the move is seen as an attempt to keep Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on the right side of the regime.
Chavan told editors of various newspapers published from Nagpur on Saturday, ”A white paper is not a clean chit. Scam-related issues are often challenged in the Bombay High Court. We can check whether we can have a judicial inquiry into the irrigation scam after a discussion with all concerned parties.” The Opposition is not ready to allow the house to function till a SIT inquiry is announced into the scam. Incidentally, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High court is expected to hear soon a PIL in the irrigation scam.
The ruling combine apprehends that the Bench may order a high-level inquiry under its supervision into the scam and may even pass strictures against the state government for a ‘cover-up’.
Chavan has convinced NCP High Command that to avoid this embarrassment and to pacify the opposition, the government should announce a judicial inquiry. Chavan has also discussed this issue with NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse has requested BJP National President Nitin Gadkari to speak with Pawar. Chavan may announce a judicial inquiry and appoint a retired judge close to him on the commission.
The judicial commission may later be given regular extensions till the 2014 elections. This will help Chavan rein in Ajit Pawar but the move may undermine public interest and help in delaying the revelation of truth in the scam.
PRIVILEGE MOVE
Nagpur: The Opposition, meanwhile, has decided to table a privilege motion against Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare for giving false information on irrigation sector in the Assembly and Council.
Tatkare had stated that growth in irrigation sector is 5.7 percent. However, the Economic Survey is categorical that the growth in irrigation is 0.1 percent only. This is the estimate of the Agriculture Ministry also.
Pramod Chunchuwar
