After Kadam, now Uddhav questions Jalyukt Shivar

In the backdrop of Shiv Sena leader and Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam's allegations of corruption in the Rs 10 crore Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan, party chief Uddhav Thackeray has asked how it is different from the irrigation scams during the previous government.

Kadam had recently alleged that the work done under the water conservation scheme in Ratnagiri's Dapoli, Khed and Mandangadh is only on paper and there is no actual work done. Yet, bills of the bogus work have been cleared by officials.

"I will place all papers before the Chief Minister and show him the photos and information that I have received of the bogus work done in Konkan region under the Jalyukta Shivar scheme. We will demand a high level inquiry into this scam and strict punishment for all those involved," Kadam had said.

Thackeray, while speaking to reporters in Akola, where he had gone as part of 'Shivsampark Abhiyan,' said, "If there is corruption happening in Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan, what is the difference between this scheme and the irrigation scams that have taken place?"

"There should be an inquiry conducted into the works done under the Jalyukt Shivar scheme," he added. "If people find corruption taking place under this scheme, they should give details to Shiv Sena. We will try our best to ensure guilty are punished," Thackeray said.

Taking a dig at BJP state president Raosaheb Danve, Thackeray said he might not understand farming, but he understood the tears of farmers. "Now, farmers need to transformed so that they can speak for themselves. They need to be given a stage where they can speak up," Thackeray said.