In what turned out to be an embarrassment for the Maharashtra government, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and former minister Ganesh Naik on Wednesday slammed the officials under the Urban Development Department held by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing them of corrupt practices while handling the issues related to land plots in Navi Mumbai.
Speaking on a motion raised by himself on the plot transfer issue in Navi Mumbai, Naik said, “The Chief Minister directed the officials to first decide on the utility of plots transferred to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation from CIDCO and MIDC. Till then further process had to be stayed. But it is not happening… I won’t call all government officials corrupt. But some are corrupt. Not all have clean hands. You (officials) should be ashamed for playing with the lives of people for your benefit.”
Naik asked the officials whether they had no respect for the CM’s order. “How can they overrule the Chief Minister? Don’t they follow his orders? The secretary in the urban development department or the CIDCO managing director could be a senior officer, but does that mean Navi Mumbai municipal commissioner has no value? We will not let this happen. Stop sending ‘fatwas’ to corporation,” said Naik.
Naik, a former leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), joined the BJP prior to 2019 assembly polls and is known as one of the most influential leaders from Navi Mumbai. Naik group has been dominating the Navi Mumbai municipal corporations for decades and was upset for being denied a Lok Sabha ticket from Thane constituency.
The former minister questioned the corporation giving construction permission without sanctioning development plan. “This is nothing but to benefit builders. The CIDCO and this government are filled with agents of these builders. I am serious about this and I am not scared to say this,” said Naik, who had earlier mentioned that the meeting regarding plot transfers in Navi Mumbai took place a year ago and nothing has moved on the issue.
Minister Uday Samant assured the Assembly that a meeting with Naik will be held before the conclusion of the session to sort out the issues.
Opposition MLA Jitendra Awhad said that the government must respond to the allegations against the officials from the ruling side MLA himself. Interrupting Awhad, Naik said that his allegations are not against all but reiterated that some officials are corrupt. “If need be, I will prove it,” he said.
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