Maharashtra: CM Shinde targets Uddhav Thackeray regime over corruption in BMC

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the previous Uddhav Thackerayled government on the last day of the state legislatures winter session in NagpurCM Eknath Shinde referred to ongoing investigations into alleged scams at the Mumbai civic body during the coronavirus pandemic reported the PTIAccording to the PTI the previous regime of coffin and khichdi thieves surrendered its integrity for the sake of tenders he said while replying to the discussion on the customary last weeks resolution moved by the opposition in the state assembly in NagpurWhile Uddhav Thackeray was chief minister during the pandemic the then undivided Shiv Sena led by him controlled the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC during much of this periodThe stories of corruption during Covid19 surpass the tales from the Arabian Nights and these tales are now coming out in the ED and CAG investigations said CM Shinde who became chief minister in June 2022 after rebelling against Thackeray and splitting the party as per the PTICiting details of police investigation into the affairs of civic contractor Romin Chheda Shinde said the BMC gave Chhedas highway construction company 57 contracts worth Rs 270 croreBy the blessings of King Aaditya King Varuna showered tenders on him said CM Shinde apparently referring to Shiv Sena UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray who was a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray government and Aadityas cousin and Yuva Sena leader Varun Sardesai the PTI reported on WednesdayChheda was first given the tender of Penguin Park and later of an oxygen plant This Chheda runs Parihar clothes store in Borivali The oxygen plant was completed in October delayed by a month but was shown as completed in August A fine of only Rs 3 crore was levied on him instead of Rs 9 crore Based on bogus work completion papers a further Rs 80 croreworth work was awarded CM Shinde allegedChheda was also awarded contracts for works at Byculla Zoo administrative office maintenance water purifiers housekeeping at the Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Hospital and maintenance of air conditioning system at BMC hospitals the CM saidThe Lifeline company of Sujit Patkar another scam accused and associate of Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut showed bogus doctors and patients by fabricating records he allegedDuring the pandemic a subcontractor distributed 100 gm of khichdi to migrant workers in Mumbai for Rs 16 under a BMC initiative instead of providing 300 grams of khichdi Rs 33 as stipulated the chief minister saidThe coffin and khichdi thieves are now being exposed I have much more information about the scams Those in power surrendered their ethics when it came to grabbing tenders All those who have earned money in this business are now being exposed he saidNotably it was alleged during the pandemic that the BMC purchased body bags for Covid19 victims at inflated ratesCM Eknath Shinde also targeted Uddhav Thackeray on the Shiv Sena UBTs recent protest rally against the Dharavi redevelopment project which has been bagged by the Adani groupWhen settlement fails a protest is organised We did not change a single condition in the tender process Adani emerged as the eligible bidder only through a transparent process he claimed according to the PTISpeaking on the ongoing Maratha reservation agitation CM Shinde claimed that Uddhav Thackeray as then chief minister chose not to make him chairperson of a cabinet subcommittee on Maratha reservationThe then CM and Ashok Chavan who was made chairperson of the committee feared that if I was given the post I will do justice to the Marathas he saidwith PTI inputs