Pankaja Munde in fresh row over 'threat' audio clip


Mumbai, Oct 8, PTI: Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde found herself embroiled in a fresh controversy after a purported audio clip appeared in which she is heard "threatening" a priest of the Bhagwangad hill shrine in Ahmednagar district to allow her to make a speech on Dussehra.

Pankaja, in the unverified audio is also heard saying false cases would be lodged against the supporters of Namdev Shastri Maharaj in Parli who opposes her.

In the purported conversation she allegedly said she can buy anyone she wishes from the money provided for '25-15' -- a scheme meant for funding small works in rural areas.

"I have told my people that we do not want to fight until the 11th (October). I can buy you (people) out but don't want to do that. Whatever I have given you in the past I have given with you asking. You remember me giving you money out of 25-15? Now I won't give you money," Pankaja is heard saying.

"What is to be done with Namdev Shastri is a matter to be thought about in the future. We have to get the Dussehra celebrations done and thus do not want anything wrong to happen from our end," she is further heard saying in the purported audio clip.

"We are also not simple. Our men can beat people up in Parli and get false cases lodged against them and forced to leave the place," she is heard saying.

Responding to the audio clip, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said this is "blatant abuse" of power by the minister and that she should be immediately removed from her post.

"The audio we heard of hers is very serious. People responsible for making laws are talking about taking laws into their own hands. She has no right to remain as a minister now," Munde said.

He further said she is "cheating" the government by talking about buying people from a scheme meant for people's uplift. "We hope that at least now the CM (does not continue with his clean chit drama," he said.

While Pankaja remained unavailable for a response, her Personal Secretary said she has refused to comment over the issue. Earlier this year, she was under fire for posting selfies during her tour of drought-hit Latur.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Peter, KSA

    Sat, Oct 08 2016

    She belongs to 'clean chit party'. So, no action. Only statement "This is all game plan by congress to malign BJP". ha ha ha

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues., Frazer Town,Bangalore

    Sat, Oct 08 2016

    Many areas BJP has failed on the commitment given to the people at the time of election because lack control over the ministers

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • amarnath Shetty, Bantwal

    Sat, Oct 08 2016

    This is real face of BJP. Don't make but we will keep blackmoney with us.....

    Modi ... R U there???

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Sat, Oct 08 2016

    She has all qualities to run 'jungle raj'.After all BJP is in power in Maharashtra.

    After the Rs 265 crore alleged chikki scam, BJP minister Pankaja Munde has found herself at the centre of another storm. The Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday alleged her involvement in the Rs 12000 crore supplementary nutritious food (SNF) scam.

    Her name is also in road scam tainted company with which Ms. Munde and her husband Dr. Charudatta Palwe had a ‘close partnership’ has been revealed to have received an unusually high number of work orders during the time of that partnership, an investigation by The Hindu reveals. The probe later expanded to include 34 roads projects, involving works worth Rs 352 crore.

    PM Modi's government is looking blackmoney in tax heavens.But much of the blackmoney exist with its own bureaucrats.

    Where is the 'minimum government,maximum governance'.Why BJP is so 'tolerant' to its scam tainted leaders?

    Jai Hind

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Hussain, Abudhabi

    Sat, Oct 08 2016

    But but but....

    BJP is SAINT always !!!

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Oct 08 2016

    She should have been sacked after the Chiki episode ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Pankaja Munde in fresh row over 'threat' audio clip



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