Nimbalkar case: Sena demands resignation of Maha Home Minister

Sanjay Raut told reporters outside Parliament. “NCP chief Sharad Pawar should seek the resignations of Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil and former state Home Minister R R Patil,who is currently the party’s state president for this ongoing criminalisation of politics in Maharashtra,” he said. “Shiv Sena will be fighting to finish this kind of government patronage of crime and launch a people’s movement against the NCP,” Raut said.

Responding to queries on Pawar’s refusal to comment on Padamsinh Patil’s arrest saying it might hamper the probe,Raut said,”What does this mean? Is CBI probe wrong? The probe of the case was with his party’s government for last three years. What was he doing then? Pawar should speak up.”

“It is unprecedented that a MP soon after being elected has to go jail in connection with a criminal case. This has put a blot on Maharashtra’s’ image. This does not concern only one leader or one party. It’s an issue related to the state’s honour and hence we will launch statewide agitation on the issue,” Raut said.

The Sena MP said that the way the matter has unfolded,both the state as well as the Centre will have to answer for it,he and added that Patil should resign as an MP. Former Maharashtra chief minister Manohar Joshi also felt that Patil should immediately resign as it was a serious case and believed that if NCP chief Sharad Pawar asked him to do so,it would happen immediately. Asked whether the party should expel Patil,Joshi said,”that is another way. But I am confident if Pawar asks him to resign,he would. In my opinion it is necessary for him to resign.”