Harshwardhan Sapkal while addressing the news conference here in Nashik on Thursday
Nashik : Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Thursday accused BJP-led Mahayuti govt of large-scale corruption in development works linked to Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik, alleging that nearly 50% of the Rs 35,000-crore earmarked for the event was being siphoned off.
“Govt claims that Rs 35,000 crore is being spent on development works in Nashik, but the focus is on making money from these projects,” he said, adding that Rs 22 crore was spent on pandals and Rs 3 crore on a helipad for the recent Kumbh flag-hoisting ceremony, while Rs 350 crore is being spent on CCTV cameras. “There is systematic corruption in the name of development works, with 50% of the funds being siphoned off,” he alleged. “Kumbh Mela is a sacred event, but BJP-led Mahayuti govt has not spared even this event from corruption,” he said.
Speaking in Nashik after a review meeting of Congress functionaries from north Maharashtra, Sapkal alleged that expenditure on Kumbh-related infrastructure and facilities was being inflated. Sapkal claimed several projects in Nashik remained incomplete and alleged that bogus work orders were being issued.
Congress leaders said the meeting reviewed issues discussed at an earlier camp of district presidents in Nashik. The allegations were made after a review meeting attended by senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, MP Shobha Bachhav, AICC secretary B M Sandeep and other party functionaries. Separately, Thorat accused Mahayuti govt of trying to weaken the cooperative sector. Referring to developments at Gokul, he alleged that despite a panel led by Congress leader Satej Patil having a clear majority, the election of the chairperson was stalled over quorum-related issues. “BJP is going to any extent to capture power. What it did during the Lok Sabha and assembly elections is now being repeated in the cooperative sector,” Thorat alleged.