Maharashtra: Ahead of monsoon session, opposition guns for housing minister Prakash Mehta
The Devendra Fadnavis government could face a stormy last session of the Maharashtra legislature as the opposition has already trained its gun on the housing minister Prakash Mehta over corruption issue.
In Short
- The Devendra Fadnavis government could face a stormy last session of the Maharashtra legislature over corruption
- Prakash Mehta has been accused of corruption in the Tardeo MP Mills Compound project in Mumbai
- Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao has already ordered the Lokayukta to probe the charges
The last session of the Maharashtra legislature might be a stormy one for the Devendra Fadnavis government as the opposition has already trained its gun on the Housing Minister Prakash Mehta over corruption issues.
Exactly a year ago, during the same monsoon session, the minister was in the eye of a storm facing corruption and violation of norms allegations over his role in the Tardeo MP Mills Compound project in South Mumbai. As a result of the furore kicked up, the Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao ordered the Lokayukta to probe the alleged violations.
The Tardeo MP Mills Compound project is a slum development programme of the state government.
Slamming the government, the opposition also cited media reports and demanded the resignation of the minister.
"The entire procedure lacked transparency. In his remarks on the file, Mehta has claimed that the chief minister was aware of the deal. If his claims are right then this case is even more serious," said Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant.
He said, "This has exposed the real face of the BJP. The CM had already given a clean chit to Mehta...we are demanding an FIR to be lodged against Mehta and he should be immediately sacked from the cabinet."
Though, speaking to reporters at his Ghatkopar home, Mehta refuted the allegations.
"I have clearly put my stand on the floor of the House. I still maintain, that after 2009, Ashok Chavhan as the CM took the decision on the file. No new decision has been taken after that," he said in his defence.
The monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature will begin in the 3rd week of this month.