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NCP won't sack indicted mantris By: Yogesh Naik February 24, 2005 The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will not take any action against two ministers Nawab Malik and Sureshdada Jain, and a former minister Padamsinh Patil, who have been indicted by the Justice P B Sawant Commission for corrupt practices.
A section of NCP leaders feels the man who raised charges against them social activist Anna Hazare has been charged with corrupt practices in the Hind Swaraj Trust, by the same commission.
A senior NCP leader said, The man who made allegations against the ministers is himself in trouble, so why should action be taken against the ministers? In fact, we are very happy the commission has also accused Hazare of corrupt practices. He must retire from social life now.
The Commission submitted the report to state chief secretary R M Premkumar last evening.
According to sources, it has accused Higher and Technical Education Minister Sureshdada Jain and former minister Padamsinh Patil with maladministration and corrupt practices. Labour minister Nawab Malik has been charged with corrupt practices.
Hazare had alleged that Malik, an MLA from Nehrunagar and earlier minister of state for housing, had favoured a private builder for developing Zariwala chawl in Mahim when the court had ordered redevelopment of the chawl by MHADA. Malik said, The allegations of corruption are false. They can only accuse me of being negligent.
Jain was accused of misappropriation of funds of the civic body in Jalgaon and mismanagement of funds in Jalgaon district cooperative bank, while he was its director. Jain said, I will step down only if the charges against me are serious.
NCP strongman from Osmanabad, Padamsinh Patil, who was minister in the Shinde cabinet, had been accused of selling sugar meant for export in the open market.
The sugar mill under his purview had also not given funds for Kargil war victims.
Patil said, How can I be punished for what my managing director did? He did not deposit the money collected for war victims with the government. We eventually rectified the lapses.
The Sawant Commission report is Congress weapon to attack NCP. Congress spokesperson Anant Gadgil said, We hope the government follows the procedures. I hope the report is tabled in the House.
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