Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam wants Uddhav to be questioned in desilting scam

MUMBAI: Congress today demanded that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray be brought under the ambit of inquiry in the desilting scam and said the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and standing committee chairman of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should be held accountable for the alleged irregularities and FIRs be registered against the trio.

Addressing a press conference here, Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam said the probe in the desilting scam cannot just stop at suspending 14 civic officials and FIRs being registered against nine contractors.

"Just like NCP ministers were made accountable for the irregularities in the irrigation department, the political heads in the civic establishment should also be held morally responsible," Nirupam said.

He said Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had said before the onset of this year's monsoon that 90 per cent of nala clean-up work had been completed, while Sena MP and former standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale had said 60 per cent desilting work was done before monsoon.

"BMC Chief Engineer Laxman Vhatkar had also said that 92 per cent of disilting work was completed. We want to know who is lying," Nirupam said.

"Uddhav Thackeray being the head of the party, which is ruling the civic body for 22 years, should be asked who gave him the information about 90 per cent work being completed. He should be brought in the ambit of inquiry," Nirupam charged.

Accusing the BJP of trying to wash its hands off the scam, Nirupam questioned if the Deputy Mayor had no role to play in the irregularities.

"BJP wants to walk away with the credit of setting up of the inquiry. But, if BJP is serious about corruption in the BMC, it should withdraw support to the Sena," he said.

Nirupam demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should institute a comprehensive and transparent probe to unearth the corruption in the BMC.

"Despite having a budget of Rs 40,000 crore and cash reserve of similar amount, roads, health, fire brigade infrastructure are in dire straits," he alleged.