Mumbai: Allegations have been flying thick and fast since ousted Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh’s letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray became public. However, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said Sunday that there is no threat to the coalition MVA government in the said. Sharad Pawar also said that the allegations made by Singh would be looked into.
However, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut admitted Sunday that the allegations made by Singh against minister Anil Deshmukh, and the Sachin Vaze case have tainted the image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. He said all allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground.
Raut while talking to reporters also said that ‘something needs to be rectified’. He said the ruling allies should come together to discuss how these stains can be washed off.
In his letter Singh has alleged that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect at least Rs 100 crore from city bars and hotels every month. However, the charge was denied by the minister. “Such allegations against the government or ministers are unfortunate and shocking. The contents (of Singh’s letter) are sensational,” Raut said.
“The veracity of the letter’s contents will be done by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and (NCP president) Sharad Pawar. The MVA government has completed a year-and-a-half now. All allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground,” Raut added.
Raut said the police administration is the backbone of any government. “The backbone is symbol of pride and self-respect and the government should always strengthen it,” he stressed. “This government is doing well. But now something needs to be rectified and the MVA allies should get together to discuss how the stain can be washed off,” he pointed out.
“I have to accept that these allegations and the Vaze case have tainted the image of the government. Uddhav has always tried to keep the government’s image clean. What happens because of government officials needs to be controlled at the right time,” the Shiv Sena MP added.
In a separate development, MNS chief Raj Thackeray sought the Centre’s intervention in unearthing the truth behind the explosives-laden car found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence here last month.
Addressing a press conference, Raj alleged that the Maharashtra government was incapable of shedding light on several basic points in the case.
“The explosives case doesn’t revolve only around (former Mumbai police commissioner) Param Bir Singh and (suspended Mumbai police officer) Sachin Vaze. Police placing the explosives or being asked to do so is not a small thing,” he said.
“The basic issue should not be forgotten, otherwise this case will go the same way as actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s (death) case,” he added.
Meanwhile Pawar pointed out that it was Singh who decided to reinstate Vaze in police force last year. He asserted that Singh was making wild allegations because he was removed as Mumbai police commissioner.
Pawar also said that he would tell Uddhav to seek former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro’s help for looking into claims by Singh. He asserted that efforts to destabilise Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra but will prove futile.