Maharashtra Congress targets Somaiya over allegations against Chavan

Maharashtra Congress hit out at BJP`s Kirit Somaiya for making "false allegations" against CM Prithviraj Chavan over award of contract of Maharashtra Sadan building in the national capital.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress on Sunday hit out at BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya for making "false allegations" against Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan over the award of contract of (the newly constructed) Maharashtra Sadan building in the national capital. Somaiya had alleged that the state sub-committee on infrastructure, headed by the Chief Minister, had awarded the contract to raise the new building to KS Chamankar, "a little-known contractor".

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, "Somaiya is making baseless allegations against the chief minister." "He (Somaiya) is misleading the people of the state. The Chief Minister is sensitive to the issues of the people. But Somaiya has been making false allegations against most of the chief ministers from Congress-ruled states," Sawant added. Without naming Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leader said, "BJP has entrusted the job of its election campaign to modern-day Goebbels and Somaiya is also part of the team." As per the agreement, Chamankar had to build three public buildings (the Maharashtra Sadan and two others in Mumbai), at an estimated cost of Rs 72 crore and hand them over to the state government. "However, a new administrative building for the Regional Transport Office at Andheri and a state guest house called High Mount at Malabar Hill are still incomplete. The state government has gifted additional 50,000 square feet FSI/TDR to Chamankar at no cost. They have also allowed additional construction of more than 40,000 square feet," Somaiya had alleged. When contacted today, Somaiya said he visited the new Maharashtra Sadan building to see the quality of work. "The Delhi resident commissioner has said that they will not take possession of the Maharashtra Sadan building as it was not shock-proof. Till date no guest has visited the guest house," the BJP leader said. "The Delhi resident commissioner has also said that almost 100 essential works in the Sadan are still pending," Somaiya said. PTI