Green signal for irrigation scam probe: Aam Aadmi Party welcomes move, demands inquiry to be impartial and free of external pressures

Aam Aadmi Party welcomes Maharashtra CM – Devendra Fadnavis’s move to give permission to Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to proceed with investigation into the ‘Irrigation Scam’ and the role of former Deputy CM - Ajit Pawar and Irrigation Minister - Sunil Tatkare in it.

The Aam Aadmi Party has played a major pivotal role in unearthing the irrigation scam. The Party has always been in the forefront in the fight to nail the culprits of irrigation scam. While welcoming the CM’s stand on this issue party feels the government needs to clarify its stand on certain related aspects.

The government needs to take a more clear as well as stringent stance on the Chitale Committe report about corruption in  Vidharbha Irrigation development Corporation (VIDC) & Konkan Irrigation development Corporation (KIDC). In the above context, AAP has already filed two Public interest Litigations (PILs) in the Bombay High Court. AAP also strongly feels that this inquiry should be handed over to a HC monitored Special Investigation Team.

It may also be noted that the state govt has till date not submitted an affidavit on it’s stance as regards the action already taken by it as well as action that is intends to take on the findings of the Chitale committee report. Aam Aadmi Party demands that the government clarify its stance to the people of the state & immediately submit an affidavit in the HC.

Even in the new government, it appears that a few ministers are trying to obtain government sanction for few projects in absolute haste without following due process & by showing utter disregard for requisite rules. AAP feels that the government should immediately formulate an appropriate policy in this regard.

The irrigation scam is an issue of utmost importance to not just Maharashtra’s farmers but to millions of common people of the state. To ensure that the  Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) completes it’s investigation without any undue pressure and duress, AAP assures the State Govt and the ACB of it’s complete co-operation.