Mumbai, Feb 4 (PTI) — Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole launched a scathing attack on the state government, led by Devendra Fadnavis, accusing it not only of rampant corruption but also of harboring criminals within its ranks. Patole's remarks came in the wake of serious allegations against Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde, who has been accused of corruption by a BJP MLA. Patole questioned the lack of action against Munde, despite the severity of the claims and the growing controversy surrounding the minister.
In a press briefing, Patole claimed, "The BJP-led government is not just corrupt, but its members are criminals. This extends beyond ministers to the entire administration. The allegations against Dhananjay Munde are serious, yet the Chief Minister has not taken any steps to address them. Why is there no action when a BJP MLA is publicly exposing Munde's corruption?"
Patole also suggested that the delay in addressing the allegations could be a result of infighting within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. "The Congress has no interest in their internal disputes," Patole remarked.
The controversy surrounding Dhananjay Munde deepened on Tuesday when activist Anjali Damania accused him of being involved in a Rs 88 crore scam in the state's agriculture department during his tenure as the minister in the previous Mahayuti coalition government. Munde is also under scrutiny after the arrest of his aide Walmik Karad in connection with an extortion case related to the murder of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district.
Patole turned his focus to broader issues affecting the people of Maharashtra, criticizing the state government for failing to address the pressing concerns of farmers, particularly those facing economic crises due to non-payment of dues. "Soybean, rice, and onion farmers are in distress, but the government is doing nothing to help them," he said. He further alleged that citizens of Maharashtra were suffering while "Bangladeshi women are receiving benefits from government schemes like Ladki Bahin."
Patole also highlighted the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, citing the recent murders in Shirdi and the killing of Somnath Suryavanshi, an Ambedkarite activist, allegedly by police in Parbhani. "The law and order situation has collapsed," Patole said, adding that the government is hiding serious issues from the public.
He also referred to the killing of Akshay Shinde, the accused in the Badlapur school sexual assault case, who was reportedly killed in a fake encounter. "The opposition will not remain silent. The government must answer these questions," he asserted.
In a separate development, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of using black magic and superstition to secure his political future. Raut alleged that buffaloes were sacrificed during Shinde’s visit to the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, and their remains were later buried at the official residence of the Chief Minister, 'Varsha'. Reacting to Raut's comments, Patole said, "Since the Modi government came to power, black magic and superstition have become rampant. Is this happening in Maharashtra as well?"
Patole criticized such practices as shameful and expressed concern that they were occurring in a state that had produced social reformers like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. "It is deeply troubling that these practices are taking place in Maharashtra," he said.
On the issue of the credibility of recent assembly elections, raised by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar, Patole echoed similar concerns from the Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). "We have already lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, which has insulted democracy. Prakash Ambedkar has approached the court, and Rahul Gandhi also raised this issue in Parliament yesterday. Now that the matter is in court, we hope for justice," Patole concluded.
