Adarsh report delayed; Opposition demands explanation

MUMBAI: The inquiry report on Adarsh housing society scam, which was to be presented in the monsoon session of the Maharashtra assembly on Friday, has been delayed indefinitely.

Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan announced that Adarsh report is not being tabled in the house because the Action Taken Report (ATR), which is part of the inquiry, is not ready yet. There was a major ruckus in the state assembly on Friday after the government made it clear that the Adarsh report will not be tabled in this session.

The Opposition BJP and Shiv Sena demanded an explanation and holding of a special session of the assembly for tabling of this report. The opposition claimed that the government was trying to protest former congress chief ministers who were allegedly involved in the irregularities related to the Adarsh case.

Leader of the opposition in the state council BJP’s Vinod Tawde said, “This is a blatant attempt to save the former Chief Ministers of Maharashtra who gave clearances to Adarsh society. We demand that the report should be made public immediately. We want an explanation. We will initiate a no-confidence motion against the government if the report is not made public.”

Meanwhile state deputy chief minister, NCP's Ajit Pawar indirectly targeted the Chief Minister by telling the media outside the assembly that it was CM Chavan who had told him earlier that Adarsh report will be presented in the house in current session. Speaking to reporters Ajit Pawar said “I told the media last week, that Adarsh report will be tabled in this session because CM Chavan had told me so. Now if there is a delay in tabling the report, you should ask the CM why there is a delay. I have no answers.”

Congress leaders and former Chief Ministers of the state Ashok Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde were invited by the inquiry commission during the investigation of the Adarsh scam to depose as they were allegedly involved in giving clearances to Adarsh society. Both these leaders claimed that they had not given any out of turn clearances to Adarsh society.