It will be disrespectful to soldiers if BJP gives Rajya Sabha berth to Ashok Chavan: Uddhav

It will be disrespectful to soldiers if BJP gives Rajya Sabha berth to Ashok Chavan: Uddhav

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Feb 12 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday raked up the Adarsh housing scam to target Ashok Chavan and said if the BJP sends him to Rajya Sabha, it will amount to disrespecting martyred soldiers.

Chavan has resigned from Congress and also as an MLA amid speculation that he will join BJP.

“Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had gone to Nanded (Chavan’s home district) and spoke about corruption committed by Ashok Chavan. They had said Chavan disrespected the families of the martyred soldiers.

“But if the Prime Minister sends him (Chavan) to Rajya Sabha, it will amount to disrespecting our soldiers,” Thackeray said while addressing a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city.

The prime minister and Fadnavis had in the past dubbed Chavan a “dealer and not a leader”, he claimed.

“They had termed the Adarsh housing scam as disrespect to soldiers. I want to ask the PM if he is going to send the person (Chavan) who has disrespected martyred soldiers and their families to Rajya Sabha?” Thackeray questioned.

Chavan sent his resignation letter as a primary member to state Congress president Nana Patole. He also resigned as MLA by submitted resignation to Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.

The former chief minister has said that he has not yet decided to join the BJP.

Thackeray said the government should implement the recommendations made by agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan who is conferred with Bharat Ratna.

“It seems a market of Bharat Ratna is set up. They (BJP) think that conferring the top honour will ensure the votes of various communities. The Bharat Ratna-awardees are great figures. But what about implementing MS Swaminthan’s recommendations on agriculture?” Thackeray asked.

He accused the BJP of diverting new investments to Gujarat and “creating a wall between that state and the rest of the country”.

Speaking on the occasion, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut attacked state minister Abdul Sattar, who belongs to Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, over “scams”.

“Sattar is involved in several scams. He will go to jail in the next four months. When our government returns to power, we will not spare the guilty,” Raut added.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve targeted the state government over water scarcity in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city.

“The previous MVA government under Uddhav Thackeray allotted Rs 2,500 crore, including Rs 1,680 crore, for the water pipeline project. It was expected to lay a pipeline up to 3 km every month. But till now only 23 km distance is covered,” he said.

Danve alleged the government has asked the local body, which is financially not strong, to pay Rs 810 crore for the scheme.

Former MP Chandrakant Khaire alleged that AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel’s agitation against a bank scam was aimed at helping his friends.