TNI Bureau: Amidst the political crisis in Maharashtra, a new twist emerged relating to the irrigation scam that creates a fresh trouble for BJP President Nitin Gadkari. Earlier, Ajit Pawar tendered his resignation over allegations of corruption in irrigation department.
Anjali Damania, a whistleblower who has been instrumental in blowing the lid off the Rs. 72,000 crore irrigation scam in Maharashtra, has named BJP chief Nitin Gadkari for trying to suppress the issue. She claimed that in a meeting with Gadkari in August at his Worli, Mumbai home, he told her not to push too hard to expose the scam. Earlier, without naming Mr Gadkari, Ms Damania had said that ‘the opposition party chief’ told her “we help Pawar and he helps us, can’t do anything in this scam”.
It is also alleged that that BJP President Nitin Gadkari’s close aide Ajay Sancheti, a BJP MP, got licences against the Company Registrar’s rules. The name of Sancheti’s company was changed to SMS Infrastructure in 2005. Mr. Sancheti got licences for both of his companies from VIDC in 2007. He then went on to form a Joint Venture with D&SN Thakkars and secured contracts worth Rs 156 crore.
However, Mr Sancheti said that all are false allegations. The company’s name was changed as per established guidelines and he had done no wrong and never had tried to break the company rules.
Right or wrong the finger is already pointed out to the BJP chief. The Congress will not sit silent over the issue. Time will say how Gadkari will come clean in the allegation.