Manohar Joshi Threatens To Quit

Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi last night said he will quit if Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray accused him of misdeeds and corruption.

Shivsenapramukh has not levelled any allegation of corruption against me so far, Joshi stated in his reply to a debate on demands of grants of general administration and urban development departments in the legislative assembly. He rebutted point by point allegations of misdeeds and corruption made by Congress members Dilip Walse Patil and R R Patil and charged the opposition with launching a conspiracy to defame him and the government by making baseless accusations.

Both Congress members charged Joshi with involvement in a number of land scams.

 

He said under the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme, slum dwellers in a particular area came together and handed over their land and development scheme to a builder of their choice. He denied R R Patils allegation that there was massive corruption in selection of builders for the scheme. Your accusations are deserved to be thrown into the dustbin, Joshi told Walse Patil amidst massive thumping of desks by treasury members and made R R Patil his target of ridicule and scorn in his blistering attack. I dont make baseless charges in the house, but please do not equate my civility with weakness, otherwise I will have to put you in proper place, Joshi said.