'SIT Members and Term of reference' exposed Govt. stand to protect NCP-BJP ‘Law-Makers’ involved in Rs.70,000 crore Irrigation Scam

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013 TO ALL AND BEST WISHES TO CLEAN INDIA MOVEMENT

Maharashtra SIT member and Term of reference exposed Govt. stand to protect NCP-BJP ‘Law-Makers’ involved in Rs.70,000 crore Irrigation Scam

                   

Nagpur – 1^st January 2013

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan late night after deep pressure from media announced names of the members and term of  reference of SIT constituted to probe mega scam in irrigation projects amounting more than Rs.70,000 crore  is stage managed drama to protect involved “law makers”  v.i.z. Ministers Ajitdada Pawar and Sunil Tatkare of NCP and BJP MP Ajay Sancheti ,BJP MLC Mithleya Bhangdiya  ,NCP MLCs Sandeep Bojoria and Avinash Bhasale who are Wealth Manager of Ajit Pawar and are involved in Scam as per documents before Mumbai high court in PIL  as per announcement as The terms of reference of the SIT and the appointment of members apart from water expert Madhav  Chitale, the committee includes former ACS (Finance) A K D Jadhav, former irrigation secretary V M Ranade and former Agriculture commissioner Krishna Lavhekar. and term of reference of SIT is to go into the details of examining the irrigated potential and actual irrigated land, reasons for the low actual irrigated area, reasons for cost escalations, delaying completion of pending projects, and suggesting measures for improving the irrigation sector hence SIT has not been asked to investigate any  corruption which nothing but sabotage to dying farmers families and victims families of vidarbha agrarian and this SIT formation and finalization term of reference is stage managed show of CONG-NCP-BJP unholy alliance  and attempt to cover up massive irrigation scam hence vidarbha farmers demand scarping of such toothless SIT and arrange CBI inquiry in to serious allegations of massive corruption in irrigation scam, Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS)  informed in press release today.

Earlier too Maharashtra CM  ruled out constituting special investigation team (SIT) to probe the irrigation scam under Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1955  to save deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and water resources minister Sunil Tatkare allegedly involved in the scam that had stalled winter session for four days, has vindicated stand taken activists that SIT headed by water expert without statutory power is just eye-wash and stage managed show of  all political parties to mislead public and this is happening due to unholy nexus of NCP-BJP  with directly involved contractors who are now law makers with help of these parties hence we are urging Mah. Govt . to crap this SIT and order   a judicial probe or CBI enquiry into Rs.70,000 crore scam,Tiwari added.

As there is no provision in Commission of Inquiry Act that there should be a judicial member on the panel and it is only if a panel constituted under COI Act, the government had to mandatorily give all the statements on oath and such SIT becomes a quasi-judicial with judicial powers to summon bureaucrats, government officials, ministers and experts. There will be regular hearings and those will be deemed judicial proceedings under Section 193 and 228 of IPC. It will be just like regular court hearings but existing SIT under Madhav chitale is mare criminal waste of time and money and nothing will come out even inquiries made by Nandkumar Vadnere and HT Mendgiri committees were not under this Act and therefore the government was not duty bound to act against the guilty hence till date there is action against all involved in ,Tiwari said.

It is alleged in PIL before Nagpur bench of Mumbai high-court that   the cost of 38 irrigation projects coming under VIDC rose dramatically by a whopping Rs20,000 crore in just seven months in 2009 - from Rs6,672 crore to Rs26,722 crore. It also claimed that 30 projects were granted quick approval in just four days and Mah. deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is directly involved in this scam,Tiwari added.

‘In fact irrigation Vidarbha for years suffered neglect under irrigation department run by western Maharashtra politicians but irrigation scam of state’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar who was state's irrigation minister from 1999 to 2009 and also ex-officio chairman of VIDC and then Sunil Tatkare is massive one as  38 ongoing irrigation schemes by increasing their estimated costs by over four times to Rs 26,722.23 crore from the original Rs 6672.27 crore. This happened in a single year - 2009 - with a majority of approvals given in three months, between June and August, just a couple of months before the state elections by going  out of the way to favour a group of contractors that included Rajya Sabha member Ajay Sancheti, Sancheti who has a major stake in irrigation business is reported to be also close to Pawar. A group of contractors including Sancheti, Avinash Bhosle of Pune who was named in CIDCO land scam and Yavatmal MLC Sandip Bajoria ,MLC Mitesh Bangadiya, a contractor are among the chosen few to have got mobilization advance even though there was no such clause in original tender document. It is highly shocking MP Ajay Sancheti circumvented the rules to bag contracts hence we demand criminal action against all are involved in this irrigation scam amounting more tha Rs.30,000 crore and this main issue which has lost it’s focus hence we are upset as SIT announcement is just another time pass and free passage to corrupt ministers and lawmaker-cum-contractors ’Tiwari said.

"The unholy nexus of these contractors with NCP-BJP  has waken voice of opposition and their safe passage guilty ministers and contractors by way of tooth non-statutory SIT is nothing but sabotage  public faith and parting with corruption taht will have very serious implication in future hence till there is time for BJP to rectify the stand and demand scraping of toothless SIT over irrigation scam" Tiwari urged.

तेलंगणासोबत वेगळ्या विदर्भाचीही निर्मिती करा-केंद्रीय गृहमंत्री यांना निवेदन

तेलंगणासोबत वेगळ्या विदर्भाचीही निर्मिती करा-केंद्रीय गृहमंत्री यांना निवेदन

स्थानिक प्रतिनिधी/३0 डिसेंबर यवतमाळ : सर्वाधिक शेतकरी आत्महत्या होणारा प्रदेश व आदिवासींच्या कुपोषणाची राजधानी असलेला विदर्भ अनेक समस्यांनी ग्रस्त आहे. विदर्भाचे वेगळे राज्य केल्याशिवाय तेथील समस्या सुटणार नाहीत. त्यामुळे वेगळा तेलंगणा राज्यासोबत विदर्भही वेगळा करावा, असे आवाहन विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केंद्रीय गृहमंत्री सुशीलकुमार शिंदे यांना पाठविलेल्या निवेदनात केले आहे. शेतकरी आत्महत्या, उपेक्षित आदिवासींसोबत वाढत्या बेरोजगारीमुळे विदर्भाचे मागासलेपणे दिवसेंदिवस वाढत आहे. महाराष्ट्र सरकार व केंद्र सरकारने विदर्भातील उपेक्षित शेतकरी व आदिवासींसाठी खर्च केलेले १ कोटी रुपये गरजवंतांपर्यंत पोहोचलेच नाही. विदर्भात मागील दशकात एक टक्काही सिंचनक्षमता वाढली नाही. विद्युत निर्मितीचे केंद्र विदर्भात असताना येथील जनतेला भारनियमनाचा सामना करावा लागतो. विदर्भातील औद्योगिक मागासलेपणामुळे येथील जनता बेरोजगार आहे. येथील १0 लाखावर युवक मागील दशकता अभियांत्रिकी व व्यावसायिक शिक्षक घेऊन पुणे, मुंबई, हैदराबाद व बेंगरूळु येथे काम करत आहे. सरकारच्या विदर्भविरोधी धोरणामुळे येथील २ हजारांच्या वर उद्योग बंद आहेत. विदर्भावर होत असलेल्या अन्यायासाठी कोणतेही पाऊले उचलले जात नसून येथे नक्षलवाद वाढत आहे. अशा परिस्थितीत विदर्भात असंतोषाची लाट निर्माण होऊन हिंसाचार वाढण्याची भीती निर्माण झाली आहे. वेगळ्या विदर्भाच्या निर्मितीसाठी महाराष्ट्र विधी मंडळाने विशेष ठराव केला असून या मागणीला काँग्रेस व राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेसने पाठिंबा दिला आहे. भाजपा व मनसेसोबत सर्व दलित नेतेसुद्धा एकमुखाने विदर्भाला न्याय देण्यासाठी विदर्भ राज्य निर्माण व्हावे, हाच नारा लावत आहेत. स्वत: केंद्रीय गृहमंत्री सुशीलकुमार शिंदे यांनी विदर्भाच्या समस्या व दु:ख जाणले असून विदर्भाच्या विकासासाठी व शेतकरी व आदिवासींच्या होत असलेल्या आत्महत्या रोखण्यासाठी योजना आयोगाने केलेल्या शिफारशीनुसार विदर्भ राज्याची निर्मिती करावी, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे.

आदिवासींचा अन्नासाठी पांढरकवड्यात सत्याग्रह-विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेतृत्व

आदिवासींचा अन्नासाठी पांढरकवड्यात सत्याग्रह-विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेतृत्व

सत्याग्रहास उपस्थित आदिवासी महिला व पुरूष आणि मार्गदर्शन करताना माजी नगराध्यक्ष अनिल तिवारी.

जिल्हा प्रतिनिधी/२६ डिसेंबर
यवतमाळ : ज्या गरीबांची ओळख बीपीएल यादीत आहे. त्या सर्वांना अंत्योदय योजनेत धान्य द्यावे. या मागणीसाठी यवतमाळ जिल्हय़ातील हजारो गरीब व आदिवासींनी पांढरकवडा तहसील कार्यालया समोर सत्याग्रह केले. या हजारो गरीबांच्या सहीचे निवेदन विभागीय अधिकारी प्रेरणा देशभ्रतार व तहसीलदार डॉ. राजेश अडपावार यांना दिले.
या आंदोलनाचे नेतृत्व विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी, माजी नगराध्यक्ष अनिल तिवारी, आदिवासी नेते तुकाराम मेर्शाम, मोहन जाधव, अंकीत नैताम, मनोज मेर्शाम, मोरेश्‍वर वातीले, सुरेश बोलेणवार, भीमराव नैताम यांनी केले. या आंदोलनामध्ये केळापुर, झरी, मारेगाव, राळेगाव व घाटंजी तालुक्यातील साखरा, टिटवी, राजेगाव, राजुरवाडी, बोथ, बहात्तर, पहापळ, भाडउमरी, सायखेडा, रुंझा, मोहदा, करंजी कोठोडा, नवरगाव, रोहपाठ, हिवरा, शिबला, माथार्जुन, वडकी,वरद, सावरखेडा, सोनुर्ली, सिंगलदिप, डोंगरखर्डा, सावनेर, अंजी, तेजनी, गोपालपुर, वांजरी, पाटणबोरी, वडवाट, कोदोरी, चनाखा, घुबडी, चालबर्डी, ताडउमरी, धारणा मंगी, घोडदरा, पाथरी, दाभा या गावाच्या नागरिकांनी सहभाग घेतला. यावेळी आम्हाला थेट अनुदानाच्य्या रुपाने पैसे न देता ज्या गरीबांची ओळख बीपीएल यादीत आहे त्या सर्वांना अंत्योदय योजनेत धान्य द्या. या मागणीसाठी यवतमाळ जिल्हय़ातील हजारो गरीब व आदिवासी पांढरकवडा तहसील कार्यालया समोर सत्याग्रह केले. दरम्यान केंद्रीय कृषीमंत्री शरद पवार यांनी थेट अनुदान देण्याच्या योजनेला अमरावतीमध्ये केलेल्या खुल्या विरोधाच्या भूमिकेचे स्वागत विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी केले असून या मागणीसाठी आपण उच्च न्यायालयात दाद मागणार असल्याची माहिती त्यांनी यावेळी दिली.
सरकारने या वर्षी ग्रामसभेने २0१२ ची नवीन गरीबांची यादी दिल्यानंतरही २00२ च्या बीपीएल यादी प्रमाणेच गरीबांना बीपीएलचे अन्न देण्यात येत असून सरकारची ही कारवाई गरीबांचे सवरेच्य न्यायालयाने दिलेले अधिकार गोठविणारी असून स्वत: यवतमाळ जिल्हाधिकार्‍यांनी उच्च न्यायालयात दिलेल्या शपथपत्राच्या विपरीत असून जिल्हय़ातील २0१२ च्या यादी प्रमाणे ग्रामसभेने दिलेल्या सर्व गरीबांना बीपीएलचे रेशनकार्ड द्या या मागणी करीता येत्या २६ डिसेंबरला पांढरकवडा येथे कुपोषण व उपासमारीला तोंड देत असलेले हजारो आदिवासी व गरीबांनी धरणे दिले अशी माहिती आदिवासी नेते व न.प.सदस्य अंकीत नैताम व माजी जि.प.सदस्य तुकाराम मेर्शाम यांनी दिली. मागील १0 वर्षापासून दारिद्रय़ रेषेखालील असणार्‍या विभक्त झालेल्या आदिवासी, दलित व वंचित कुटुंबांना सवरेच्य न्यायालयाच्या आदेशानंतरही पिवळय़ा शिधावाटप पत्रिकेपासून यवतमाळ जिल्हय़ात १ लाख कुटुंब वंचित असून न्यायमूर्ती वाधवा समितीने आपल्या यवतमाळ दौर्‍याचावेळी जिल्हय़ातील लोकसंख्येच्या प्रमाणात अन्नाचा अधिकारापासून वंचित असलेल्या सुमारे ३0 हजार कुटुंबाना शिधावाटप पत्रिका देण्याचे आदेश १८ महिने उलटुनही केराच्या टोपलीत जिल्हाधिकार्‍यांने टाकले
देशात लाखो मेट्रीक टन गहु व तांदुळ सरकारी गोदामात सडत असल्यामुळे व ठेवण्यासाठी जागा नासल्यामुळे केंद्र सरकारने सर्व शिधावाटप धारकांना बिपीएलच्या दरोन अन्न पुरवठा करण्याची घोषणा केली आहे. त्यासाठी राज्य सरकारने अन्नाची मागणी करावी अशा सूचना सुद्धा योजना आयोगाने केल्या आहे. मात्र महाराष्ट्र सरकारने बिपीएलच्या शिधावाटप पत्रिका वाढविण्याऐवजी लाखो शिधावाटप पत्रिका कमी करण्याचा सपाटा सुरू केला. या आंदोलनामध्ये राजु उपलेंचवार, विकास गाडगे, हलीमा बानो, लिला बुरांडे, प्रितम ठाकुर, जीवन गटलेवार, राजु वर्मा, शेख निसार, संजय बोंद्रे, नितिन कांबळे, नंदू जयस्वाल, संजय सुबुगडे, मुरली वाघाडे, प्रितम ठाकुर, सतिष जाधव, सुनिल राऊत, पद्मा बैस, र्शद्धा तिवारी, आंनद कापर्तीवार, अजीज विराणी, राजु राठोड हे उपस्तित होते.

Thousands Tribal and BPL families join Protest to demand Food Security under PDS

Thousands Tribal and BPL families join  Protest to demand Food Security  under PDS

Nagpur –December 26, 2012

**“It has been resolved that all tribal and BPL families to oppose proposed cash transfer scheme under PDS and to move high court if administration fail to provide food security to all illegible families as per provision of food control order 2001 and existing list of year 2012 of BPL families’’**

Thousands of tribal and poor who are deep distressed due to on going agrarian crisis to joined massive protest to demand food security under BPL category even after they having BPL card issued by legitimate authorities in 2012 but administration is giving food under BPL to poor families listed in 2002 list which is nothing but the fraud covering all big farmers and mostly political influential families of village violating orders of apex court and standing orders giving by Mumbai high court in Kolam tribal starvation PIL .The detail memorandum with complete list of tribal and BPL families submitted to SDM Kelapur Ms.Prerana deshbhatar (IAS) and Tahsildar of kelapurDr.Rajesh Adapawar who promised delegation to take up issue with Govt., Kishor Tiwari president Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS) and convener of agitation  informed in press release today.

Tribal and poor from Kelapur ,Zari,Wani,Maregoan,Ralegoan and Ghatanji joined stir and tribal leader Anikt Naitam ,Tukaram Meshram,Letuju junghare and right to food movement activist  Anil Tiwari ,Mohan Jadhav, Suresh Bolenwar,Nitin Kamble  and Bhimrao Naitam among  prominent leaders who joined today roght to food agitation.

“It has been resolved that all tribal and BPL families to oppose proposed cash transfer scheme under PDS and to move high court if administration fail to provide food security to all illegible families as per provision of food control order 2001 and existing list of year 2012 of BPL families’’ Tiwari informed.

    

While speaking before massive gathering it was highlighted that even  after supreme court of India clear cut guidelines and union control Food Control Order -2001 that every year list of BPL families under PDS food security scheme should renewed as per list submitted by Village Panchayat in it’s “Gramsabha”, Maharashtra Govt. is giving food to the families as per it’s own survey done in the year 2012 by making mockery of “Right to Food”  denying food security to more than one lakh BPL families mostly tribal and downtrodden facing malnutrition and starvation hence in order to enforce supreme court direction and guidelines of  Food Control Order 2001 .

“In maharashtra around 5 million BPL families identified by administration are denied food security making just mockery of Nation food security mission, UPA promised universal PDS with food @ 2 Rs./kg in 2009 then maharashtra PDF Govt.promised to give food under PDS to all @Rs. 1/kg but till date  promise has not fulfilled where in between progressive maharashtra Govt. just cancelled 5 million ration card but failed to add single one ,this mockery of right food and big UPA claim to that they with Aam Aadami hence we are showing the world this truth ”Tiwari said before protestors.

If the high court and apex court orders following the recommendations of Justice Wadhva committee are not followed then we will intensify agitation in near future ,Tiwari warned.

Sharad Pawar puts foot down, says no cash transfer in PDS-DNA

  http://www.dnaindia.com/

Sharad Pawar puts foot down, says no cash transfer

DNA Research N Archives / Yogesh Pawar / Wednesday, December 26, 2012 7:34 IST

 http://www.dnaindia.com/print710.php?cid=1781728

In what is bound to raise the hackles of the Congress, NCP chief and union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has opposed the UPA government’s plan to disburse cash to the poor based on Aadhar cards. He was addressing a massive women’s rally organised by his party in Amravati on Monday.

The scheme, which Sonia Gandhi has herself pushed in public, has been touted by the Congress as a fix for leakages of subsidies to families below the poverty line (BPL). There are several critics of the scheme, but Pawar, whose party is a partner in the UPA government, has voiced his opposition openly for the first time.

“We will not be a party to the implementation of something so many poor in this country don’t want,” he said, to resounding cheers from the predominantly tribal and Dalit gathering. DNA had reported on Monday how the Maharashtra government continues to use a 2002 list that does not have over 50 lakh people who are below the poverty line, earning barely enough to afford even one meal. This is despite the fact that gram sabhas, civic councils and corporations have submitted fresh lists for 2012.

Many organisations working with the poor on the right to food have criticised the direct cash transfers. “Based on old lists, half the poor will be written off,” said Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti. He welcomed Pawar’s position.

Tiwari said Sharad Pawar’s announcement opposing the direct cash transfer in PDS had come like a bolt from the blue. “He is known for his stance against farmers and the poor while favouring MNCs and market forces. So his opposition is a surprise, as many private players are promoting the direct cash transfer scheme,” Tiwari said. “Pawar’s stand will certainly have larger implications for the UPA, as the Congress will not like to be painted as the villain by the NCP in the run-up to 2014.”

The samiti had written to Pawar about the proposed direct cash transfer scheme and the adverse effect it would have on 10 million tribals and the poor. It warned that if the scheme was implemented in Vidarbha it would also lead people to indulge in massive deforestation to survive. “Reducing kerosene quota will lead to large-scale felling of forests. The scheme has not worked for 25,000 households in Kotkasim, a block in Rajasthan’s Alwar district,” Tiwari said. “Our experience has been that beneficiaries will not be able to access the accounts in which the government transfers the money. There are instances where wages under MGNREGA and pension to old widows does not reach them. So what’s the guarantee that cash transferred to beneficiary accounts will be utilised for the same purpose?

URL of the article: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_sharad-pawar-puts-foot-down-says-no-cash-transfer_1781728-all

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Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti welcome Sharad Pawar’s open opposition to Cash Transfer Scheme in PDS

Nagpur-25^th December 2012

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar addressing massive NCP women rally in Amaravati divisional headquarter of west vidarbha in Maharashtra has strongly opposed UDA Govt. magic vote bank scheme of direct cash  scheme to stop leakages in subsidies in to BPL families in public distribution system (PDS)  which is strongly opposed by tribal and poor of region  and there is massive protest of 26^th December at Pandharkawada in Yavatmal  to oppose cash transfer scheme and Sarad Pawar’s opposition to Aadhar card base mega money rain game plan has been welcome by dying vidarbha tribal and farmers as more than 70% poors identified by Gramsabha and local body   are not covered under food for  BPL families  and subsidies food  to all poor under targeted food security  under proposed food security bill , Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) informed in press release today

“Sharad Pawar decision to oppose direct cash transfer in PDS is pleasant surprise as he is known for his stand against farmers and poor and pro-MNCs and market forces who are promoting this direct cash transfer scheme in PDS  and this stand will certainly larger implication in UDA moreover will take NCP closer to poor and tribal in maharashtra but same time in maharashtra he should arrange to give subsidies food to  BPL  families listed in 2012  as per provision  food control order 2001”Tiwari added. 

Earlier  Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJS) officially wrote to pawar about the proposed direct cash transfer scheme of subsidy to beneficiaries will adversely affect 10 million tribals and poor people Vidarbha, warning that if the scheme is implemented in Vidarbha, it will also cause massive deforestation.

Tiwari has urged the Centre to suspend the scheme till its implications are not considered and legal status coupled with constitutional validity of Aadhar cards is not approved by Parliament.

The UPA government is planning to give cash to buy food from the market to beneficiaries of Annapurna and Anotyadaya schemes. However, Tiwari warned of food security problem for tribals and other families covered under BPL category.

"Moreover, reducing kerosene quota drastically will lead to large-scale felling of forests. The scheme has not worked well for 25,000 households in Kotkasim, a block in Rajasthan's Alwar district bordering Haryana," said Tiwari.

Our experience has been that beneficiaries will not be able to access the accounts in which the government transfers the money. "Wages under MGNREGA and pension to old widows does not reach them. So what is the guarantee that cash transferred to beneficiary accounts will be utilized for the same purpose," asked Tiwari.

The VJS leader fears this is an attempt to end public distribution system (PDS) to benefit multinationals. The plans to extend cash transfer scheme to food and cooking gas subsidies will also hurt the poor, who should not be left at the mercy of market forces.

The year-old pilot programme on cash transfer in Kotkasim has failed miserably. Most residents complain they did not receive money for one year or at the best got one of the four instalments.

Tiwari said there is a constitutional question mark over validity of much-hyped Aadhar cards too. It cannot be the sole proof for the government scheme for direct transfer of cash to a poor person's account, as banks are not ready to accept Aadhar cards as ID proof, he said.

Maha mockery of BPL food security -Unable to feed poor, Maharashtra makes them vanish - DNA

Maha. Mockery of BPL Food Security-Unable to feed poor, Maharashtra makes them vanish

Published: Monday, Dec 24, 2012, 7:00 IST
By Yogesh Pawar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_unable-to-feed-poor-maharashtra-makes-them-vanish_1780966

FIGURES THAT BITE::
- Over 60% of India’s wheat and 27% of its rice is pilfered from the system before reaching the ration card holder.
- Maharashtra has cancelled 5.3 million cards saying they are bogus.
- SC guidelines need updating of BPL lists annually.
- Maharashtra still goes by the 2002 BPL survey figures
- Less than 25% of the total population in the state has a ration card

The Maharashtra government continues to use a 2002 list denying over 50 lakh of below poverty line (BPL) people who barely earn enough for one meal a day, access to food, despite the fact that local bodies have sent fresh lists for 2012 to the state. That this is being done by a government, which used targeted public distribution system for all poor, as a major plank in its 2009 campaign to come into power is baffling, say activists working for food security. Many like Kishor Tiwari president Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS) point out how this violates Supreme Court (SC) guidelines in its 2001 order (while hearing a PIL by People's Union for Civil Liberties) asking state governments to update BPL lists in keeping with local civic bodies’ lists. “We found this out when the government submitted an affidavit to the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court which is hearing a PIL filed by VJAS following large scale starvation deaths among Kolam tribals in Yavatmal five years ago. The local collector on one hand told the court that the state strictly follows the SC 2001 order and updates BPL lists annually. On the other, he admitted that on the ground a 2002 BPL survey is considered for selecting families for food security under the PDS. What’s worse despite deaths, in a clear case of a mockery of the 'right to food,' Maharashtra has denied food security to more than a lakh tribal and Dalit BPL families facing malnutrition and starvation in Yavatmal. To highlight this, a huge protest rally is being organised, on December 26th in Pandharkawda, Yavatmal. “These are desperate people battling hunger and death. The government should realise what it means when people with nothing to lose take to the street,” warned Tiwari. This is not a problem of rural Maharashtra alone, in fact it is worse in urban areas. Particularly in Mumbai, the country’s financial capital where a Mumbai University study has already established that how both malnutrition and hunger are much worse than in remote tribal areas. “Mumbai has one of the highest number of hungry in the country. Almost half of our children are malnourished and as per global hunger index (GHI) 2011. Given that India is home to one fourth of world’s hungry, its position is already the worst not only in South Asia, but also among sub-Saharan countries, you know how scary that makes Mumbai look like. It is strange to understand that this should be a problem of the financial capital of India which positions itself as an emerging economic super-power,” pointed right-to-food activist Ananda Pawar who works in Dharavi. The minister for food and civil supplies Anil Deshmukh has often taken the stand that there is limited availability of food under government sponsored schemes. “Despite the shortfall, Maharashtra has one of the best records in food distribution and supply,” he insists but seems at a loss to explain why the BPL lists have not been updated for over a decade. When asked about the regular rotting food grains for lack of adequate storage in government run godowns he passed the buck to the Centre. “We are cracking down on pilferage and losses,” he offered and raised the issue of bogus cards. According to him a state government drive to detect bogus cards which began in 2005 has led to the cancellation of 5.3 million such cards till 2011. Over 3 years, from 2005 to 2008, the state cancelled about 2.9 million cards. Then, over 2009-2010, the government cancelled about 1.2 million cards. Finally, in 2011, during the detection drive, about another 1.1 million were cancelled. Incidentally the government's own figures show that as on 1st April, 2012, the state had a mere 22 million ration cards in a total population of 112.37 million! Activists however allege that the government raises the bogey of bogus cards only to abdicate from PDS. “This is a ploy to get private players in and throw the poor to their mercy,” says Tiwari. “Even if one goes by 2002 survey figures there are more than 6.6.million BPL families covered under PDS. By claiming three million of these cards are bogus the state’s trying to keep away 50% of such families out of reach of new subsidised food schemes. A garibi-ko-nahin-hata-sakte-toh-garibonko-hatao policy seems to be put into place,” laments Tiwari. FIGURES THAT BITE:: - Over 60% of India’s wheat and 27% of its rice is pilfered from the system before reaching the ration card holder. - Maharashtra has cancelled 5.3 million cards saying they are bogus. - SC guidelines need updating of BPL lists annually. - Maharashtra still goes by the 2002 BPL survey figures - Less than 25% of the total population in the state has a ration card.

Maharashtra Tribals to Protest Denial of food security-IANS Reports

Maharashtra tribals to protest denial of food security

http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/mahrashtra-tribals-protest-denial-food-110018167.html

Nagpur, Dec 23 (IANS) Thousands of the poor and tribals will Wednesday march to the collector's office in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district to protest the denial of food security to over a lakh of downtrodden (below poverty line) BPL families, an activist said here Sunday.

Quoting a Supreme Court guideline and Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001, Kishor Tiwari, president of farmer advocacy group Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) said the state government should get the lists of BPL and Antyodaya families reviewed every year for the purpose of deletion of ineligible families and inclusion of eligible families.

"However, even after these guidelines, Maharashtra government is following its own survey, which was done in the year 2002, thereby denying food security to more than one lakh BPL families," Tiwari said.

"Hence, over 10,000 people - mostly tribal and downtrodden families - are facing malnutrition and starvation. They will march from their villages to the Yavatmal collector's office to protest deprivation of BPL ration cards, despite intervention of the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court and the apex court following the recommendations of Justice Wadhwa committee," Tiwari added.

Maharashtra Govt. fail to give food security BPL families under PDS - Massive Protest on 26th December

Maharashtra Govt. fail to give food security  BPL families under PDS - Massive Protest on 26th December

Nagpur –December 21, 2012

Even  after supreme court of India clear cut guidelines and union control Food Control Order -2001 that every year list of BPL families under PDS food security scheme should renewed as per list submitted by Village Panchayat in it’s “Gramsabha”, Maharashtra Govt. is giving food to the families as per it’s own survey done in the year 2012 by making mockery of “Right to Food”  denying food security to more than one lakh BPL families mostly tribal and downtrodden facing malnutrition and starvation hence in order to enforce supreme court direction and guidelines of  Food Control Order 2001 thousands of poor and tribal under BPL families listed by Village Panchayat in Gramsabha   will join the protest rally   at Pandharkawada  in tribal dominated sub-divisional head quarter in farmers suicide prone Yavatmal district of vidarbha ,Kishor Tiwari president Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS) informed in press release today..

“In fact Maharashtra Govt.has submitted affidavit to Mumbai high court ,Nagpur bench in our Kolam starvation PIL   that  they are strictly following food control order 2001 and list of BPL families will be updated annually but ground reality till today list 2002 of BPL survey  is considered for selecting BPL food security under PDS  and earlier we have moved  Mumbai high court Nagpur bench and Maharashtra Human Right Commission (MHRC) and successfully got included all kolam tribals of Maharashtra in Anntodya and got the direction from MHRC to have fresh survey of BPL families in the

Year 2009 but administration has not done intentionally in this regards keeping millions of poor from legitimate right of food under BPL category moreover Govt. has strongly he cancelled more than 3 million ration cards in last two years hence we are demanding food under BPL category to every poor covered under BPL and listed by village panchyat in order to give food security to dying distressed vidarbha people hence this protest” Tiwari added.

Over one lakh families from Adivasi,Dalit and underprivileged categories in the Yavatmal district alone have been deprived of BPL ration cards, despite intervention of the high court and apex court following the recommendations of Justice Wadhva committee, as Govt. gives the impression that there  is  unavailability of food under government sponsored schemes whereas Food grains are decaying in many states for want of adequate storage. it’s ridiculous on the part Maharashtra to drop down the BPL families drastically .according to 2002 BPL survey there are more than 6.6.milion families are covered under PDS and if anybody is claiming that 3 million are ration cards issued earlier are bogus then it’s obvious that Maharashtra state is trying to keep away at least 50% BPL families out of reach of news subsidies food scheme .we want resurvey by third party and final decision of cancellation of ration card after that hence restoration of right to food to BPL families is must ” Tiwari urged.

Vidarbha crisis:Charge minister for 'murder' of tribal kids:

 Friday, December 21, 2012

Indo-Asian News Service

Nagpur, December 21, 2012

First Published: 21:28 IST(21/12/2012)

Last Updated: 21:32 IST(21/12/2012)

Charge minister for 'murder' of tribal kids: Shiv Sena

The Shiv Sena demanded on Friday that the state government book a minister for the "murder" of 113 tribal children who died in the tribal regions of the state in the past decade.

Shiv Sena legislator Deepak Sawant made the demand in the assembly seeking action against tribal development minister Babanrao Pachpute under Indian Penal Code Section 302 (murder).

"In the past decade or so, 113 tribal children have died due to various reasons in tribal regions of the state. Some have died due to pneumonia and other diseases, snake-bites, malnutrition and other forms of negligence," Sawant told mediapersons later.

He demanded that since the minister is "responsible" for these deaths, the state government should initiate murder proceedings against Pachpute.

According to Sawant, the victims were studying in ashram schools dotting the tribal regions of the state. The deplorable condition of these ashram schools has been a matter of concern.

There are around 1,108 ashram schools in various tribal regions, a majority run by politicians and nearly 680 run by the government, with an average of 200 students in each school, said Vidarbha Jan Andolan chief Kishore Tiwari, who has been pursuing the cause of tribal children.

The state government spends around Rs 4,000 crore per annum under the Integrated Tribal Development Programme on tribal children, looking after their lodging, boarding, education and other activities to bring them into the social mainstream.

A few months ago, the government increased the budgetary allocation for tribal kids from Rs 600 per head per month to Rs 2,840 per head per month.

Tiwari alleged that most of the money is siphoned off while the tribal children continue to languish in poverty, malnutrition, dehydration, lack of proper sanitation and toilet facilities, leading to deaths regularly.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/979115.aspx

© Copyright © 2012 HT Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Toothless SIT is result of Contractors-Political Parties Nexus-VJAS

Toothless SIT is result of Contractors-Political Parties Nexus-VJAS

Nagpur – 21st   December 2012

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday categorically ruled out constituting special investigation team (SIT) to probe the irrigation scam under Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1955  to save deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and water resources minister Sunil Tatkare allegedly involved in the scam that had stalled winter session for four days, has vindicated stand taken activists that SIT headed by water expert without statutory power is just eye-wash and stage managed show of  all political parties to mislead public and this is happening due to unholy nexus of NCP-BJP  with directly involved contractors who are now law makers with help of these parties hence we are urging Mah. Govt . to crap this SIT and order   a judicial probe or CBI enquiry into Rs.70,000 crore scam, Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS)  informed in press release today.

As there is no provision in Commission of Inquiry Act that there should be a judicial member on the panel and it is only if a panel constituted under COI Act, the government had to mandatorily give all the statements on oath and such SIT becomes a quasi-judicial with judicial powers to summon bureaucrats, government officials, ministers and experts. There will be regular hearings and those will be deemed judicial proceedings under Section 193 and 228 of IPC. It will be just like regular court hearings but existing SIT under Madhav chitale is mare criminal waste of time and money and nothing will come out even inquiries made by Nandkumar Vadnere and HT Mendgiri committees were not under this Act and therefore the government was not duty bound to act against the guilty hence till date there is action against all involved in ,Tiwari said.

It is alleged in PIL before Nagpur bench of Mumbai high-court that   the cost of 38 irrigation projects coming under VIDC rose dramatically by a whopping Rs20,000 crore in just seven months in 2009 - from Rs6,672 crore to Rs26,722 crore. It also claimed that 30 projects were granted quick approval in just four days and Mah. deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is directly involved in this scam,Tiwari added. 

‘In fact irrigation Vidarbha for years suffered neglect under irrigation department run by western Maharashtra politicians but irrigation scam of state’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar who was state's irrigation minister from 1999 to 2009 and also ex-officio chairman of VIDC and then Sunil Tatkare is massive one as  38 ongoing irrigation schemes by increasing their estimated costs by over four times to Rs 26,722.23 crore from the original Rs 6672.27 crore. This happened in a single year - 2009 - with a majority of approvals given in three months, between June and August, just a couple of months before the state elections by going  out of the way to favour a group of contractors that included Rajya Sabha member Ajay Sancheti, Sancheti who has a major stake in irrigation business is reported to be also close to Pawar. A group of contractors including Sancheti, Avinash Bhosle of Pune who was named in CIDCO land scam and Yavatmal MLC Sandip Bajoria ,MLC Mitesh Bangadiya, a contractor are among the chosen few to have got mobilization advance even though there was no such clause in original tender document. It is highly shocking MP Ajay Sancheti circumvented the rules to bag contracts hence we demand criminal action against all are involved in this irrigation scam amounting more tha Rs.30,000 crore and this main issue which has lost it’s focus hence we are upset as SIT announcement is just another time pass and free passage to corrupt ministers and lawmaker-cum-contractors ’Tiwari said.

"The unholy nexus of these contractors with NCP-BJP  has waken voice of opposition and their safe passage guilty ministers and contractors by way of tooth non-statutory SIT is nothing but sabotage  public faith and parting with corruption taht will have very serious implication in future hence till there is time for BJP to rectify the stand and demand scraping of toothless SIT over irrigation scam" Tiwari urged. 

Yavatmal Tribals demands Liquor Ban along with Chandrapur Annoncement

Yavatmal Tribals demands Liquor Ban along with Chandrapur  Announcement

Nagpur-20^th December 2012

Maharashtra Govt.’s proposed to make ‘Wardha-Gadchiroli-Chandrapur’  make liquor free zone by imposing liquor ban in chandrapur  district  has been has been welcomed by more than 3 million tribals of Yavatmal District which is known as farmer suicide epicenter of India facing very serious problem of tribal starvation and malnutrition has urged Maharashtra chief minister to include  Yavatmal district in that proposed liquor free zone as more than  record sale of 40 million liters per annum is  reported  from 2 million liters in 2005 ,mostly being exported to adjoining  Wardha  and Gadchiroli district hence liquor ban in these three district can only be successful  if such ban is imposed is Yavatmal district too and this is long pending demand of  majority of tribals and thousands of SHGs have already raised this demand by marching district collector Yavatmal in 2010 and were told that Yavatmal liquor ban decision will be taken along with chandrapur but todays GOM meeting  chaired by Home Minster  R.R.Patil concerned ministers Shivajirao Moghe and Dipli Walse Patil   has not even considered Yvatmal for discussion hence we are urging chief minister for intervention ,Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jandolan Samiti (VJAS)  informed in press release today.

“As all liquor mafia are closely associated with congress party in Yavatmal  ,the decision to ban liquor ban is differed but if majority of liquor is being exported to these dry district which is also tribal dominated and much more crisis driven then such dry zone creation will be futile exercise hence inclusion of most needed Yavatmal  district is must will help state to have foolproof success such most waited move moreover this will help to lower down on going distress in crisis driven farmers who are killing themselves due crop failure and mounting debt hence this demnd” Tiwari added.

We are urging Maharashtra chief minister to look in to ground issues related to the demand of adding Yavatmal along with chandrapur which is overdue to see that integrated social engineering issues of tribal area are targeted in one stroke other wise after chandrapur we will  force the govt. to enforce same   logic and vision to take decision of making dry zone or liquor free hence we expect justice from Maharashtra Govt. hence this urgent appeal, Tiwari said.

Toothless SIT is result of Contractors-Political Parties Nexus-VJAS

Toothless SIT is result of Contractors-Political Parties Nexus-VJAS

Nagpur – 21st   December 2012

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday categorically ruled out constituting special investigation team (SIT) to probe the irrigation scam under Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1955  to save deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and water resources minister Sunil Tatkare allegedly involved in the scam that had stalled winter session for four days, has vindicated stand taken activists that SIT headed by water expert without statutory power is just eye-wash and stage managed show of  all political parties to mislead public and this is happening due to unholy nexus of NCP-BJP  with directly involved contractors who are now law makers with help of these parties hence we are urging Mah. Govt . to crap this SIT and order   a judicial probe or CBI enquiry into Rs.70,000 crore scam, Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS)  informed in press release today.

As there is no provision in Commission of Inquiry Act that there should be a judicial member on the panel and it is only if a panel constituted under COI Act, the government had to mandatorily give all the statements on oath and such SIT becomes a quasi-judicial with judicial powers to summon bureaucrats, government officials, ministers and experts. There will be regular hearings and those will be deemed judicial proceedings under Section 193 and 228 of IPC. It will be just like regular court hearings but existing SIT under Madhav chitale is mare criminal waste of time and money and nothing will come out even inquiries made by Nandkumar Vadnere and HT Mendgiri committees were not under this Act and therefore the government was not duty bound to act against the guilty hence till date there is action against all involved in ,Tiwari said.

It is alleged in PIL before Nagpur bench of Mumbai high-court that   the cost of 38 irrigation projects coming under VIDC rose dramatically by a whopping Rs20,000 crore in just seven months in 2009 - from Rs6,672 crore to Rs26,722 crore. It also claimed that 30 projects were granted quick approval in just four days and Mah. deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is directly involved in this scam,Tiwari added. 

‘In fact irrigation Vidarbha for years suffered neglect under irrigation department run by western Maharashtra politicians but irrigation scam of state’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar who was state's irrigation minister from 1999 to 2009 and also ex-officio chairman of VIDC and then Sunil Tatkare is massive one as  38 ongoing irrigation schemes by increasing their estimated costs by over four times to Rs 26,722.23 crore from the original Rs 6672.27 crore. This happened in a single year - 2009 - with a majority of approvals given in three months, between June and August, just a couple of months before the state elections by going  out of the way to favour a group of contractors that included Rajya Sabha member Ajay Sancheti, Sancheti who has a major stake in irrigation business is reported to be also close to Pawar. A group of contractors including Sancheti, Avinash Bhosle of Pune who was named in CIDCO land scam and Yavatmal MLC Sandip Bajoria ,MLC Mitesh Bangadiya, a contractor are among the chosen few to have got mobilization advance even though there was no such clause in original tender document. It is highly shocking MP Ajay Sancheti circumvented the rules to bag contracts hence we demand criminal action against all are involved in this irrigation scam amounting more tha Rs.30,000 crore and this main issue which has lost it’s focus hence we are upset as SIT announcement is just another time pass and free passage to corrupt ministers and lawmaker-cum-contractors ’Tiwari said.

"The unholy nexus of these contractors with NCP-BJP  has waken voice of opposition and their safe passage guilty ministers and contractors by way of tooth non-statutory SIT is nothing but sabotage  public faith and parting with corruption taht will have very serious implication in future hence till there is time for BJP to rectify the stand and demand scraping of toothless SIT over irrigation scam" Tiwari urged. 

.

"वैदर्भीय शेतकरी, आदिवासींच्या समस्या गंभीर"- हिवाळी अधिवेशनात चर्चा करा- तरुण भारत

"वैदर्भीय शेतकरी, आदिवासींच्या समस्या गंभीर"- हिवाळी अधिवेशनात चर्चा करा--विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीची मागणी 

तभा वृत्तसेवा

यवतमाळ, १४ डिसेंबर

मागील  पाच  दिवसांपासून वर्षभराच्या प्रतिक्षेनंतर नागपूर येथे हिवाळी अधिवेशनाचे संपूर्ण कामकाज कोणत्याही गंभीर प्रश्नावर चर्चा न होता गुंडाळण्यात येत आहे. यामुळे विदर्भातील ३० लाखांवर कर्जबाजारीपणा व नापिकीला तोंड देत असलेल्या आत्महत्याग्रस्त शेतकरयांमध्ये आणि ५० लाखांवर कुपोषण व उपासमारीला तोंड देत असलेल्या आदिवासींमध्ये निराशा पसरली आहे. सरकार व विरोधी पक्षांच्या संगनमताने सुरू असलेला हा कोट्यवधी रुपयांच्या उधळपट्टीचा प्रकार तत्काळ बंद करून गंभीर प्रश्नांवर चर्चा करून तोडगा काढावा, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे.

अनेक आमदार व मंत्री दिवसा विधानसभेच्या कामकाजावर बहिष्कार टाकत आहेत, मात्र संध्याकाळी जन्मदिवस आणि सत्काराच्या नावावर पाट्र्या झोडत आहेत. अधिवेशनाच्या तिसरया दिवशी तर संध्याकाळी पुण्याला जाण्यासाठी राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस व भाजपाच्या नेत्यांनी खेळीमेळीने विधानसभा व परिषदेचे काम गुंडाळून अनेकांना आश्चर्याचा धक्का दिला. सिचन घोटाळ्याच्या भ्रष्टाचारामध्ये लिप्त असलेले आमदार कामकाज ठप्प पाडत असल्याचा आरोप विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी केला आहे.

विदर्भाचा समावेश महाराष्ट्रात केल्यानंतर नागपूरला राजधानीचा दर्जा देऊन या ठिकाणी कमीतकमी महिन्याभराचे अधिवेशन घेऊन विदर्भाच्या गंभीर प्रश्नांवर चर्चा करून तोडगा काढण्याचे आश्वासन देण्यात आले होते. मात्र सध्या नागपूरचे हिवाळी अधिवेशन म्हणजे सर्व लोकप्रतिनिधी व सनदी अधिकारयांचा सहल, विदर्भाच्या राष्ट्रीय उद्यानात व आजूबाजूच्या पर्यटनस्थळाला भेट देण्याचा कार्यक़्रमच झाला आहे.

नागपूरचे हिवाळी अधिवेशन महिन्यावरून आता जेमतेम दहा दिवसांवर आले असताना त्यातील पाच   दिवस सभागृह स्थगित करून

विरोधी पक्षसुद्धा विदर्भाच्या प्रश्नांना प्रलंबित ठेवण्यासाठी सरकारलामदत करत असल्याचे त्यांनी म्हटले आहे. पॅकेजमधील घोटाळ्याचे निमित्त करून महाराष्ट्रातील ४२ लाख हेक्टरमधील कापसाची नापिकी, ग्रामीण भागातील आरोग्य, रोजगार, आदिवासींच्या कुपोषणाच्या गंभीर समस्या, विदर्भात येत असलेले औष्णिक विद्युत केंद्र आणि सिचन व पिण्याच्या पाण्यावर सरकारने टाकलेला दरोडा हे प्रश्न केव्हा चर्चेला येतील, असा सवालसुद्धा किशोर तिवारी यांनी केला आहे.

महाराष्ट्रात या वर्षी कापूस उत्पादक शेतकरयांचे कमीतकमी २० हजार कोटींचे नुकसान होत असून हीच स्थिती धान, सोयाबीन व ऊस उत्पादकांची झाली आहे. उभे तुरीचे पीकसुद्धा पर्यावरणाच्या गंभीर समस्येमुळे नष्ट झाले आहे. अशा परिस्थितीत महाराष्ट्रातील कृषी विकासदर उणे शून्याच्या खाली २० टक्क्यांच्यावर राहणार असून अशा परिस्थितीमध्ये दिवाळखोर महाराष्ट्राचा आर्थिक विकासदर सुद्धा शून्याच्या खाली जाण्याची भीती निर्माण झाली आहे,

मात्र विधिमंडळात या विषयाबद्दल गंभीरता दिसत नाही, असेही किशोर तिवारी यांनी म्हटले आहे. संपूर्ण ग्रामीण भागात विजेचा प्रश्न गंभीर झाला असून रात्रीच्या झगमगाट पाट्र्या झोडणारया या लोकप्रतिनिधींना हा अंधार केव्हा दिसणार असा प्रश्नसुद्धा विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केला आहे.

विदर्भाच्या गंभीर समस्यांची महाराष्ट्र सरकार दखल घेण्यास तयार नसेल आणि विरोधी पक्षही विदर्भाला वारयावर सोडणार असतील तर अशा

परिस्थितीमध्ये महाराष्ट्राने विदर्भाला वेगळे करावे, अशी मागणी करणारे पत्र विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने राज्यपालांना दिले आहे.

BJP-Sena ignored Irrigation scam for long-TIMES OF INDIA

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BJP-Sena ignored Irrigation scam for long

By Ashish Roy, TNN | Dec 15, 2012, 12.57 AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/BJP-Sena-ignored-scam-for-long/articleshow/17618836.cms

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Farmer activist Kishor Tiwari pointed out that massive irregularities in irrigation corporations were bared in the CAG and PAC reports of 2008-09 and 2009-10 but the opposition did not demand any action taken reports (ATR) on these Scams  

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NAGPUR: The first week of winter session has seen very little legislative business. Apparently under pressure from low key MLAs, BJP and Shiv Sena leaders have allowed the question hour to proceed but after that it has been only commotion. BJP and Sena say they are raising Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam since last five sessions but government has refused to order a probe. Hence, they have adopted an aggressive posture this time.

However, insiders in both parties say the opposition is taking advantage of rift between chief ministerPrithviraj Chavan and his deputy Ajit Pawar on the one hand and Ajit and his uncle and NCP supremoSharad Pawar on the other. This is not to deny the conducive atmosphere created by series of exposes on irrigation scams by the media and Ajit Pawar's dramatic resignation, the whitewash white paper and Ajit's re-entry into government.

Opposition leaders were well aware of massive corruption in irrigation projects since years. Many times issue of corruption in a one or two projects was raised by leaders like Eknath Khadse, Subhash Desai, Pandurang Phundkar, Devendra Fadnavis and Vinod Tawde. However, the systematic loot initiated through irrigation projects was never talked about. Whenever, the opposition sought a discussion on irrigation it was mainly on backlog of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Konkan and Khandesh.

That the opposition was not very keen on taking on Ajit Pawar was evident from the fact that even when government did not provide copies of Vadnere Committee report tabled in winter session of 2010 to legislators, there was no outcry. Pawar's role had been directly questioned in this report. Moreover, the detailed report was abridged to just 20-page one. Same was the case with Kulkarni, Upase and Mendhegiri committee reports.

Farmer activist Kishor Tiwari pointed out that massive irregularities in irrigation corporations were bared in the CAG and PAC reports of 2008-09 and 2009-10 but the opposition did not demand any action taken reports (ATR) on these. Senior BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis, however, defended themselves, "we have much more ammunition in our hands this time. The letter of chief engineer Vijay Pandhre is clear evidence of corruption. That there is something wrong is evident from the fact that the CM agreed to publish a white paper."

"However, when there was no mention of the four enquiry committee reports in the white paper, we decided enough was enough. We first published a black paper to point out what the white paper conveniently did not include and then assumed this aggressive posture," he added.