Ajit Pawar alleges irrigation project fraud, BJP says ‘surprised,’ Khadse says not true

He added,”Though I am part of the Mahayuti’s coordination committee, Ajit Pawar is the senior minister. The way Ajit Pawar is speaking, we never expected this from him…’

On Tuesday, Ajit Pawar had alleged that when the file of Purandar Lift Irrigation Scheme had come to him in 1999, the project cost was shown as Rs 330 crore. ”I had rejected the file. After evaluating the project cost, it was revealed that the same project would cost Rs 220 crore. It emerged that Rs 100 crore had been added to the project in the name of party funds and Rs 10 crore for the concerned officials. If the inflated amount had not been cancelled, it would have led to a major financial problem in the State…The file is still in my possession,” Pawar had claimed.

The BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena were in power in Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999. The Congress and NCP returned to power in 1999.
During the BJP-Shiv Sena tenure, BJP leader Eknath Khadse headed the Irrigation Ministry. Reacting to Ajit Pawar’s allegations on Wednesday, Khadse said,”Ajit Pawar is facing allegations regarding corruption in the irrigation department. That is why he is diverting public attention by making such comments…”

Khadse said Ajit Pawar was remembering the file 25 years later. ”I was the Water Resources Minister in 1999. During that period, no such thing happened. Increasing the project cost for party funds never happened. Why did Ajit Pawar hide this information for 25 years? Did he shield corruption for 25 years? For people’s sake, I request him to open the file he had in his possession and bring out the facts,” he said.