Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday once again backed minister Dhananjay Munde over his alleged role in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed a month ago. Pawar said Munde was not involved in the sarpanch's killing and the state government will ensure the accused is punished. The opposition as well as MLAs from BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP have raised the decibel against Munde, demanding his resignation until the probe into Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder was completed. "Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured that action will be taken against anyone involved in the brutal killing of the Beed sarpanch. I have told the Chief Minister to take action against the accused in the sarpanch murder case, regardless of the party to which the accused belongs," Pawar told reporters in Pune on Thursday. He said, "Munde told me that he was not even remotely involved in the murder of the sarpanch. There are investigations in the case going on through three ways including Special Investigation Team (SIT), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the court. The truth will come out and the accused will be punished." On seeking Munde's resignation on moral grounds, Pawar said there has to be proof for any alleged involvement by anyone in the crime, but that was not the situation here. "The Opposition can make allegations but there needs to be proof of it," he said. When asked about rising crimes in the city, Pawar said he had given the city police time to improve the situation. He said he had warned better officers would be brought into the city if the situation was not improved. "Police may be lacking somewhere if they are unable to tackle crime in Pune despite being given all infrastructural support and no political interference in their work," he said. Regarding criminal activites taking place in broad daylight, Pawar said, “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken serious cognisance of these cases. Being a representative of this area, I have also taken this issue very seriously.” Pawar also said he has not contacted any MP from Sharad Pawar's party. His clarification follows allegations made by Baramati MP Supriya Sule that NCP state president Sunil Tatkare was wooing MPs from NCP(SP). ''Our state president Sunil Tatkare has already clarified this. No MP, not even Nilesh Lanke, has spoken to us. ''They have their own party, we have our own. Our symbols are also different. Our party has been voted to power by the people. Therefore, now we have the responsbility of working towards the interests of the people," he said. When asked if he would take up becoming Beed district guardian minister, Pawar said, "The Chief Minister will take a decision regarding this. He will distribute the responsbility of 36 districts."
