Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 4: In a significant political development, Maharashtra's Environment and Climate Change Minister, Pankaja Munde, has welcomed the resignation of her cousin, Dhananjay Munde, from the Devendra Fadnavis-led cabinet. She asserted that his departure should have taken place sooner, emphasizing the primacy of morality in governance.
Speaking candidly to the press, Pankaja Munde expressed her firm stance on the issue. “I welcome his resignation. He should have stepped down earlier. Those who advised him to resign should have acted more decisively, and he too should have been quicker in making the decision,” she stated.
Her comments hold weight given that both Pankaja and Dhananjay Munde served as ministers in Devendra Fadnavis’ administration, albeit from rival parties—BJP and NCP, respectively.
Dhananjay Munde, who held the portfolio of Food and Civil Supplies as an NCP minister, faced intense scrutiny over his association with Walmik Karad, a key suspect in the gruesome murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, in December last year.
As Wasim Karad, a close aide of Munde, emerged as the prime accused in the case, pressure mounted from the Opposition, demanding accountability. Initially reluctant to resign, Munde ultimately stepped down following Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ insistence. His resignation came just a day after distressing photos and videos of Deshmukh’s brutal murder surfaced online, sparking widespread outrage.
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) further intensified the controversy with a 1,200-page charge sheet, implicating Karad and others. This document provided additional ammunition to the Opposition, which continued to press for Munde’s resignation due to his alleged connections with the key conspirators.
Among the eight individuals arrested in connection with Deshmukh’s murder, Walmik Karad is a central figure. His name prominently features in the charge sheet, along with seven others, for orchestrating the broad daylight killing in Beed district. The unfolding scandal has cast a shadow over the state’s political landscape, raising serious questions about accountability and ethical governance.