Prove allegations or resign: Rahul Shewale to Ashish Shelar

After BJP leader Ashish Shelar accused the Sena-led BMC of a 100 crore nullah-safai scam, Sena MP Rahul Shewale on Tuesday retorted and said that Shelar should resign unless he can prove the allegations he made.

Ashish Shelar had alleged that despite spending the money on desilting of nullahs, the city experienced severe floods during the first monsoon showers of June 19.

Shevale said that the BMC spends Rs 140 crore per year on nullah safai and has paid only Rs 16 crore to the contractors before it stopped all payments. He said, "Ashish Shelar haphazardly calculated the cost of nullah safai to be Rs 100 crore. The BMC cannot be accused of corruption for money it has not even spent yet."

Calling this an irresponsible act to damage the civic body's reputation before Mumbaikars, Shevale has demanded that the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should personally look into the matter immediately. Shevale said, "Even BMC chief Ajoy Mehta is acting under pressure so the only other authority which can take a decision is the chief minister himself."

Meanwhile, Shevale has asked that the suspended BMC officials should be reinstated in their positions. After Deputy Municipal Commissioner Prakash Patil led committee submitted its report regarding status of nullah desilting to Mehta, the BMC suspended the officials in charge of the project.