“A major MD drugs factory in Savali village of Satara district was exposed by the Mumbai Crime Branch, but the Fadnavis government is not taking the matter seriously. Despite the revelation of such a large drug factory, no action has yet been taken against the real masterminds behind it. Close to Savali village lies Dare, the native village of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and this illegal business was allegedly being run by his brother, Prakash Shinde. It is precisely because of the alleged links between the drugs factory in Savali village and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde that the government is not taking firm action," alleged Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal.
Speaking to the media at Tilak Bhavan, the Congress state president said the Satara police were aware that such a large drugs factory was operating in Savali village, yet they did not take action. "It was the Mumbai Crime Branch that carried out the raid. The Superintendent of Police of Satara shares extremely close relations with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This is the same Superintendent of Police who ordered a brutal lathi-charge on mothers and sisters of the Maratha community during the Maratha reservation agitation at Antarwali Sarati. Is there collusion between Shinde and Fadnavis in the Satara drugs case? This question must be answered by Fadnavis and Shinde," Sapkal said.
Sapkal further stated that with the help of the Election Commission, municipal corporation elections were hurriedly announced to divert public attention from the Satara drugs case. "The voter lists have not yet been published. They were supposed to be released on the 15th, but now booth-wise voter lists will be published on the 27th. Filing of nomination forms begins on the 23rd, and candidates, as well as proposers and seconders, are required to mention their part number and serial number from the voter list on the nomination forms. If the voter lists are not available, how are nominations to be filed" Sapkal questioned. By announcing the election programme in such a haphazard manner, the Election Commission has displayed intellectual bankruptcy, he said.
An arrest warrant has been issued against Mahayuti government minister Manikrao Kokate, yet no action has been taken against him so far. As soon as the court verdict came, Kokate became “not reachable.” "The government is trying to protect him. Just as Parth Pawar was protected, the government is now attempting to protect Kokate as well. In contrast, when court verdicts came against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sunil Kedar, action was taken against them within 24 hours. Since Kokate belongs to the ruling party, he is being shielded. This is a cruel mockery of democracy, and Devendra Fadnavis is maintaining silence," Sapkal alleged.
