Patil attacks Fadnavis over malnutrition deaths

Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil today castigated Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his "inability" to sack Tribal Welfare Minister Vishnu Savara despite the Bombay High Court's observations regarding the government's handling of malnutrition and infant deaths.
Talking to reporters here, the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly said, Fadnavis is incapable of acting against "inefficient and corrupt" ministers.
"Death of tribals is the policy of this government," he said, adding the BJP-led government has failed to control malnutrition and infant deaths.
"Due to corruption and inefficiency of the minister concerned, the issue has assumed serious proportions," he said.

The Supreme Court and now the Bombay High Court have taken the government to task on this matter, he said.
"Fadnavis should have shown Savara the door owning moral responsibility...The responsibility should also have been fixed on bureaucrats and officials of the department concerned. It is unfortunate that Fadnavis is shielding the corrupt and inefficient authorities," he said.

In the Supreme Court, government did not direct the prosecution to put forth its stand. In the high court, the government tried to mislead the court with figures, he alleged.
"Had the government been sensitive, it would have sacked Savara by now," he said.

"Irate tribals have barred Savara from entering Palghar, his home district. There are agitations outside his home and still Fadnavis has not acted against the minister," Vikhe Patil said.