Row over Deshmukh, ex-top cop’s letter rock Parliament

In LS, BJP demands resignation of MVA govt, CBI probe; Rajya Sabha adjourned after uproar during the question hour

NEW DELHI: The issue of former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh’s letter to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray claiming that the state’s home minister Anil Deshmukh set a ₹100-crore collection target for the police every month, on Monday rocked the proceedings of both houses of parliament.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday demanded resignation of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government headed by Thackeray while seeking a CBI inquiry into the allegation made in the former police commissioner’s letter.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha amid protests by the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party, BJP member Manoj Kotak said that according to Singh’s letter to the chief minister, the state’s home minister had asked suspended Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Waze to collect ₹100 crore from bars and restaurants in the metropolis every month.

Kotak said the letter reflected that those in the government were using officials in collecting money but the chief minister so far has not uttered a single word on the issue. “It is a serious matter. The home minister should resign, the Maharashtra government should resign and there should be a CBI inquiry into the whole issue,” he said.

BJP member Rakesh Singh said the issue is so serious that it can’t be termed a state subject as it has a national implication.

“The allegation against the state home minister was made by none other than the former police commissioner. What was the compulsion of the chief minister to defend an API-rank official, who was in suspension for 16 years, in a press conference,” he asked.

Singh claimed that a senior politician from the state had changed his stand after telling that it was a serious matter and there should be an inquiry into it. “What is the fear? Is there any fear of spilling the beans about those who get cut? If ₹100 crore collected from Mumbai alone, what would be the figure for the entire Maharashtra?” he asked.

However, Shiv Sena member Vinayak Raut strongly defended the MVA government, claiming that the BJP has been hatching a conspiracy to defame the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP dispensation for the last 14 months so that a BJP government can be installed in Mumbai.

“The issue is nothing but part of BJP’s big conspiracy,” he said.

Raut alleged the former Mumbai police commissioner who wrote the sensational letter was the “most corrupt police officer”.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Monday amid uproar over corruption allegations in Maharashtra during the Question Hour. As soon as the Question Hour began, treasury bench members started raising the issue of alleged extortion in Maharashtra, to which the Deputy Chairman said nothing will go on record and asked members to allow the proceedings.

As the treasury bench members continued rasing the issue, Deputy Chairman Harivansh stood up and requested members to ask their supplementary questions to ministers.

Amid the din, Chhaya Verma of the Congress asked Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar about provisions provided by the Centre on the destruction of crops in various states by wildlife and added that PM Narendra Modi had also expressed concern over the issue. However, Javadekar said he was unable to hear anything and tried to raise the Maharashtra issue.

“What she is asking, I could not hear,” he said and referred to Maharashtra issue, prompting the Chair to adjourn the House till 2 pm at 12.11 pm.