Ajit warns against ‘commission raj', takes babus to task
At a meeting of District Planning and Development Council (DPDC) for Pune and Parbhani districts, there was a series of embarrassing moments when a section of legislators, including MPs, in the presence of cabinet members, brought to the notice of deputy CM
Ajit Pawar
rampant
corruption
in the two districts' collectorates.
Minister Madhuri Misal said officials had ignored specific complaints against encroachments in Pune. Ajit Pawar took erring officers to task, saying most officers had managed to stay in Pune for over a decade by using their personal relations with CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
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When legislators lodged a complaint against the civic chief, Ajit Pawar said he knew the official is retiring at the end of May but stern action will still be taken, indicating that govt will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against him before his retirement.
More serious charges were levelled against Parbhani district administration officials. Most of the elected representatives alleged that the DPDC officer there does not clear any file unless 2% commission is paid to officials. An agitated Ajit Pawar asked the district collector to state who the funds were collected for and who was given the money. He also expressed strong displeasure over officials' failure to provide basic information on poor women who are eligible for govt aid. Now, he has summoned Pune and Parbhani district officials to Mumbai with the information sought by the elected representatives.
CM's quick response
On April 22, after learning about the worst ever terror attack on tourists in Kashmir, Fadnavis swung into action. Instead of following the routine procedure of approaching the office of the J&K governor or the CM, he knocked on the doors of divisional commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri and sub-divisional magistrate Qaisar to secure firsthand information on the tragedy. He immediately recognised the gravity of the situation and alerted law enforcement agencies.
Fadnavis stayed in constant touch with J&K governor Manoj Sinha and Union home minister Amit Shah. Then, he roped in junior civil aviation minister Murlidhar Mohol. Arrangements were made to bring the bodies of the victims to their hometowns. In addition, chartered flights were mobilised for stranded tourists and special arrangements were made by airlines for regular passengers. Besides declaring aid of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, Fadnavis deputed disaster management minister Girish Mahajan to supervise relief and rescue operations there. Fadnavis said no stone was left unturned in providing relief measures to the stranded tourists.
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