Setback for NCP as anti-graft body seeks nod to probe against top leaders

Party says it will defend Pawar and Tatkare in the run up to the assembly poll

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Saturday downplayed the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)’s move to seek state government's approval to initiate probe against Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and party state unit chief Sunil Tatkare in connection with the irrigation scam. NCP, which is in seat-sharing talks with the Congress, said the party would defend Pawar and Tatkare in the run-up to the Assembly polls, slated later this year.

The ACB sought the permission, after an activist Praveen Wategaonkar submitted a letter, seeking an offence be registered against Ajit Pawar (who was water resources minister during 1999-2010) and Tatkare (who succeeded him until he resigned as water resources minister in June 2014) and officials of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) for their alleged role in the scam.

A former union minister and NCP general secretary, who did not want to be quoted, told reporters that the government would take a call on the permission sought by ACB.

''Pawar and Tatkare have time and again clarified their positions in and outside the state legislature. Let the government gives its approval to ACB to hold an open inquiry, Pawar and Tatkare will make their arguments,'' the leader quoted above said. He said the ACB's move won't alter the region-wise poll rallies planned for Pawar and Tatkare in the run-up to the Assembly poll.

The NCP leader said the party would prepare a booklet detailing the position of Pawar and Tatkare and their role in the alleged multi-crore scam. He recalled that a special investigation team, headed by water expert Madhav Chitale, had not mentioned either Pawar or Tatkare but pointed out some lapses and financial irregularities in the process of awarding the irrigation contracts.

Tatkare alleged that it was a political conspiracy to malign his and Pawar's image, especially when the Assembly polls are round the corner.

Meanwhile, state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Devendra Fadnavis demanded that Pawar should immediately resign as DCM, accepting the moral responsibility. Fadnavis claimed that ACB's move has substantiated his charge with regard to the alleged involvement of Pawar and Tatkare in the irrigation scam.