Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant on Wednesday accused the BJP of having collaborated with the United Phosphorus Ltd, the company, which he alleged, was responsible for the death of 40 farmers in Vidarbha region. "This is the reason why BJP’s campaign material was being illegally prepared at the company’s headquarters," claimed Sawant.
Addressing a press conference, Sawant demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. He also said that the black money generated by giving contracts to the same company for Deonar dumping ground is being used for BJP’s campaign as quid pro quo.
According to Sawant, the BJP is now so embarrassed that they are denying having any links with the company but the fact can not be ignored that Pradip Goyal, brother of railway minister Piyush Goyal, is an independent director of United Phosphorus Ltd. "This company has been given a contract worth Rs 4500 crore by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to dispose off the waste material at Deonar dumping ground. BJP MP Sanjay Kakade is also a partner in this project. This itself establishes business links of the BJP with the company," opined Sawant.
The payment of this company, stated Sawant, was stopped by BMC as there were allegations of corruption. "It was Shiv Sena’s MP Rahul Shewale who had alleged that Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar had mediated with the municipal commissioner for clearing the stalled payment. The ruling BJP government had also intervened in the issue. This indicates that the black money earned through these payments as well as the remuneration for mediation is being used for BJP’s campaign," Sawant alleged.
Sawant further said last year 40 farmers died while spraying pesticides on cotton crop and nearly 700 farmers were affected in Vidarbha. Many farmers lost their eyesight while some of them became disabled. These pesticides were manufactured by United Phosphorous ltd. The ruling BJP government conducted inquiry in this through special investigation team and surprisingly, the company was given a clean chit and formulation of pesticides was held responsible for the tragedy. "The family members of these farmers have not got justice because the government has a special love for the company. The government has been defending the UPL going out of the way at the cost of farmers," Sawant claimed.
The Election Commission officials on Tuesday raided the office of the United Phosphorus Ltd in Khar area of North-West Mumbai and allegedly found that the BJP's campaign materials are being prepared at this office. In all, electronic cards to the tune of Rs 6 crore were seized and the office was sealed by the election commission.