Bhujbal targets Sharad Pawar; says he was asked to resign as DY CM despite stringent action against Telgi in 2003
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, once a confidant of Sharad Pawar, has alleged the NCP chief made him resign as Maharashtra deputy chief minister based on mere allegations about the «Telgi scam» in 2003 though he had ordered the arrest of the fake stamp paper racket's kingpin. Addressing a rally in Beed on Sunday, Bhujbal, now a member of the Ajit Pawar camp of NCP, also said nobody sought senior Pawar's resignation in the 1990s when allegations were levelled against him by some people, including G R Khairnar, then deputy municipal commissioner of Bombay (now Mumbai) civic body.
Sharad Pawar was the chief minister of Maharashtra from March 1993 to March 1995- his third stint- when Khairnar, known as «demolition man» for taking action on illegal encroachments in Mumbai, had raised certain allegations.
«On December 23, 2003, you (Pawar) took my resignation as deputy chief minister in the Telgi scam.
I was then home minister. It was I who arrested Telgi.
I had asked (the police) to invoke MCOCA against him and ensured stringent action. But based on mere allegations levelled against me by some people, you called me and asked me to resign,» said Bhujbal, currently a cabinet minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP government.
The rally in Beed was also attended by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar who was present on stage when Bhujbal addressed a rally.
«In 1992, 93, and 94, some allegations were raised against Pawar saheb by some people including G R Khairnar but no one sought his (Pawar's) resignation.
