BJP steps up attack on MVA govt, demands narco test of Uddhav Thackeray, Anil Deshmukh

MUMBAI: Maharashtra BJP leader Ram Kadam has demanded that both Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and state’s Home Minister Anil Deshmukh should undergo a narco analysis test and tender their resignations while referring to a row over former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh's allegations of corruption against the latter.

“The image of Maharashtra and Mumbai Police has been tarnished under the leadership of the chief minister. In the history of independent India, there has never been such a heinous crime in the past. This happened right under the nose of the CM. This country and the entire world have seen him supporting the Vaze gang,” Ram Kadam said on Sunday.

हम पुनः मांग करते हैं #मुख्यमंत्री @OfficeofUT समेत #गृहमंत्री @AnilDeshmukhNCP दोनों स्वय का #नार्कोटेस्ट कराते हुए तुरंत #इस्तीफा दे और अपने दामन की सच्चाई बयां करे हो जाने दो दूध का दूध और पाणी का पाणी।

— Ram Kadam - राम कदम (@ramkadam) March 22, 2021

Today morning 11 am we wil meet mumbai police commissioner shri hemant nagrale regarding #Vajhegang unfortunately #Vasulisarkar trying to protect #Vajhegang.

— Ram Kadam - राम कदम (@ramkadam) March 22, 2021

Another BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said that it was the “gang” of now suspended API Sachin Vaze that used to collect Rs 100 crore for the Maharashtra Home Minister. 

The Thackeray government which has been in power for the last 15 months, will have to give account of the Rs 1500 crore that would have been collected by now, Somaiya alleged.

The BJP leader demanded that now Sachin Vaze, Sanjay Patil, Param Bir Singh, Anil Deshmukh and the officials of the chief minister’s office must also be investigated.

As the BJP mounted pressure on the MVA government, a meeting was held at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's residence to discuss the row involving Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

After the meeting, the NCP ruled out Anil Deshmukh’s resignation. The meeting was held in view of former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh's allegations of corruption against Deshmukh.

It was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state unit NCP chief Jayant Patil, Praful Patel, Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. "There is no question of Anil Deshmukh's resignation. ATS is investigating the case and we believe the culprit will be punished," Jayant Patil was quoted as saying by ANI.

Later, Shiv Sena later Sanjay Raut too endorsed Patil and said that a probe into the matter is underway. The meeting took place hours after Pawar told reporters that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will decide the fate of Deshmukh.

Param Bir Singh has claimed Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai. Deshmukh has denied these allegations as baseless.