Irrigation scam: NCP counters BJP's allegations

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday aggressively countered the allegations levelled against its leaders in connection with the multi-crore irrigation scam. The party released two documents to clarify details and refute the Opposition's allegations.

Home minister R R Patil asked Opposition leaders to tender an apology for “running a misinformation campaign” against NCP leaders, especially against deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. The party is also exploring legal options against Opposition leaders, he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had earlier relased a “Black Paper”, challenging the state government's White Paper, which gave a clean chit to Pawar.

Further, Patil for the first time, said the Economic Survey's observation that there was a rise of only 0.1 per cent in irrigation potential during 1999 and 2009 was a printing mistake.

The actual increase was 5.17 per cent, he said. Patil also countered the Opposition's claim that the scam size was Rs 70,000 crore, saying the actual expenditure under the projects in questions has so far been Rs 42,435 crore, comprising Rs 30,500 crore on construction of irrigation projects, Rs 6,300 crore on establishment and Rs 5,900 crore on rehabilitation.

Patil, who was accompanied by state NCP chief Madhukar Pichad, said the party’s leaders and members would campaign across the state to counter the “misguided allegations”.