Take decisive action against Khadse: Cong to PM

NEW DELHI: Congress today stepped up pressure for dismissal of Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse by asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take "decisive action" against him to prove his claim of 'zero tolerance to corruption'.

"Take action against Khadse, dismiss him forthwith from his ministry, register a case against him for misuse of office and take decisive action," party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

Khadse is in a spot over the purchase of 3-acre Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation land in Bhosari allegedly at a low price of around Rs 3.75 crore from its original owner in the name of his wife and son-in-law. The market value of the land is reportedly Rs 40 crore.

Surjewala attacked Modi for maintaining a "deafening silence" in the last 24 months on the issue of action against corruption where BJP leaders or the party's governments are involved.

This, he said, was evident from the Prime Minister "not punishing" Lalit Modi to permitting Vijay Mallya to escape the clutches of law, from Vyapam scam of Madhya Pradesh to PDS scam of Chhattisgarh, from GSPC scam of Gujarat to mining scam of Rajasthan.

"People of Maharashtra and India demand that Prime Minister breaks his studied silence and takes decisive action on all these issues including Khadse," he added.