Ajit Pawar Discusses Alleged Rs 70,000 Crore Irrigation Scam
Background
Ajit Pawar, the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), recently addressed the ongoing inquiries into the alleged Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam. He stated that he has been investigated by various state and central agencies, including the ACP, Departmental, ED, and Income Tax, over the past 14 years.
Congress Accusations
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using coercion and blackmail to bring Ajit Pawar into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Ramesh claimed that the BJP’s tactics were particularly strong in Maharashtra.
Allegations and Investigations
Ramesh highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initially led the charge against Pawar. He also mentioned that Devendra Fadnavis, after becoming Chief Minister, showed Pawar a file recommending an open inquiry into the scam, which Ramesh interpreted as a threat.
Confidentiality Breach
Ramesh further alleged that the BJP breached the oath of confidentiality and the Official Secrets Act, calling for an investigation into these claims.
Ajit Pawar’s Response
Ajit Pawar recounted an incident where Fadnavis showed him a file signed by the late RR Patil, the former Home Minister, which initiated an open inquiry into the scam. Pawar expressed feelings of betrayal by Patil, whom he had supported.
Political Context
Ajit Pawar is currently contesting elections in Baramati, facing competition from his nephew, Yugendra Pawar.
Doubts Revealed
Ajit Pawar -: Ajit Pawar is a politician from Maharashtra, India. He is a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and has held various positions in the state government.
Rs 70,000 Crore -: Rs 70,000 Crore is a huge amount of money, equivalent to 700 billion rupees. It is often used to describe the scale of large financial matters or scams.
Irrigation Scam -: An irrigation scam refers to illegal activities or corruption related to water management projects meant for agriculture. It involves misuse of funds meant for building or maintaining irrigation systems.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India. It is currently the ruling party at the national level.
NDA -: NDA stands for National Democratic Alliance, which is a coalition of political parties in India led by the BJP.
Jairam Ramesh -: Jairam Ramesh is a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, another major political party in India. He has held various positions in the government and is known for his work in environmental and economic policies.
PM Modi -: PM Modi refers to Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. He is a member of the BJP and has been in office since 2014.
RR Patil -: RR Patil was a politician from Maharashtra, India, who was a member of the NCP. He served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and was known for his work in law enforcement.
Baramati -: Baramati is a city in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India. It is known for its agricultural and industrial activities and is a significant political constituency.