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‘I am no saint, will apply MCOCA’: In Beed amid sarpanch murder row, Ajit Pawar slams extortionists

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he would invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against those indulging in extortion.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar said on Thursday that he was “no saint” and would not hesitate to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against those indulging in extortion. (File Image)

On his first visit to Beed after being appointed guardian minister of the district, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said on Thursday that he was “no saint” and would not hesitate to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against those indulging in extortion while implementing development works.

Pawar has been under pressure to ask NCP minister Dhananjay Munde to resign after Munde’s close aide Walmik Karad was arrested in a case linked to the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog in Beed district. Deshmukh was murdered on December 9, allegedly after he tried to prevent the accused’s extortion attempt from a windmill company.

“I will do the work I am expected to do as the deputy chief minister. Those works which are related to the chief minister will be taken up by him. While doing so, I will take the local people’s representatives into confidence. Dhananjay Munde and Pankaja Munde are my colleagues from this area. I will take them into confidence,” Pawar said. Dhananjay Munde was with Pawar on Thursday.

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“I will ensure that there is no discrimination while implementing development works in the area. If I am not going to discriminate, then I expect that those people for him I am working should also not discriminate. Otherwise, I will not do their work. If they are going to act against me, I will not tolerate it. I am not a sadhu-sant (saint)…I am a straightforward person,” Pawar said addressing party leaders and workers in Beed ahead of the District Planning and Development Council meeting.

“If I learn that ransom is being demanded, I will not think twice while applying MCOCA against them. I will take any extreme position. I had told the chief minister that if I am being made the Beed guardian minister, I need everyone’s help. Some officers are in Beed for years, I will take corrective steps,” he added.

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