Pawar gives clean chit to Hazare

PUNE, May 14: Former chief minister Sharad Pawar today advised the state government to go to the roots of the graft-allegations made by Anna Hazare who has begun a “fast-unto-death” since last Saturday.

Pawar, refused to believe Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s allegations that Hazare had misappropriated Rs 22 crore meant for model a village scheme. The Hind Swaraj Trust, which has also been blamed by the Sena government of misusing funds, has completed various developmental works by involving non-governmental organisations. The allocations given by the state government would have been used for making salary payments and other works. “It is therefore incorrect to say that there has been misappropriation of the funds”, he maintained.

“If they (the saffron alliance) are harping on transparency in government, they should investigate into the allegations,” Pawar said adding,“It is generally observed that people sometimes just make allegations which may not be genuine.” He indicating that some timely steps by the SS-BJP government could have avoided the prevailing embarrassing situation. Pawar, who has also been subjected to one of Anna Hazare’s agitation when he was chief minister, was not too keen on offering his comments on the social worker’s ongoing fast.

Pawar believed that the impasse could be solved through mutual consent.