The Housing Minister Prakash Mehta cannot be accused of corruption merely on the basis of a file noting made by him and that the allegations being made against the senior BJP leader are “politically motivated”, said the Maharastra CM, Devendra Fadnavis.
This was said by him days after he ordered an inquiry against the minister over alleged violation of norms in a slum redevelopment project. Mehta had allegedly allowed unauthorised transfer of extra building rights in a slum rehabilitation authority project in south Mumbai, originally granted to slum dwellers, to project affected people, apparently to favour a developer. He had mentioned that he had kept the CM informed about the transfers but CM Fadnavis denied.
The opposition has raised a pitch in the state legislature seeking removal of Mehta.
CM said that Mehta had merely given his remarks on the file, over which no further action was taken. If opposition asks for his resignation then this is a politically motivated move. Fadnavis said he has ordered an inquiry against Mehta but his government is transparent. If in future he is found guilty, appropriate actions would be taken against him.
The CM along with his cabinet ministers took part in the proceedings of the upper house and later walked out of the council calling the opposition is ‘high headedness’ against their act of flouting rules, creating a ruckus and disrupting the proceedings.