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Turning the table on the opposition, the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government in Maharashtra has now raised doubts over the very authenticity of the Ram Pradhan panel report that was leaked to media recently.
Dropping sufficient hints, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan flanked by his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Patil, asked whether copy (opposition has) of the Pradhan panel report, which probed the Mumbai terror attacks of 26/11, was authentic.
"We have not received the copy of report, which was leaked to media and is with the opposition. Let me have the copy and I will go through it first," Chavan, told a press conference, on the eve of commencement of winter session of the state legislature, in Nagpur on Monday.
He said the opposition parties had on Monday attended the customary tea party meeting with the ruling alliance after a long gap and took up the Pradhan panel report issue.
"They talked of giving a copy to me. Let me first go through it to check the genuineness of the copy," Chavan said.
At one point, Chavan dismissing the leakage of Pradhan panel report in media, quipped saying, "Was it really leaked?"
To a question, Chavan disapproved remarks of the then Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor who leveled charges against his senior colleagues. "It is not within his purview of discipline to speak on such matter," he said expressing his displeasure on Gafoor's conduct.
To a question on revoking of suspension of four newly elected Members of Legislative Assembly of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Chavan said the decision was taken by the assembly and only the house could review it.
Acknowledging that the issue came up during the meeting with the opposition, which was raised by MNS group leader Bala Nandgaonkar, Chavan said one more interesting fact has come to light that one of the MNS members, Shishir Shinde, had not taken oath of membership during ruckus over Abu Azmi taking oath in Hindi.
He said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Patil was legally examining the issue as per the Constitutional provision.
On rising farmers' suicides in Vidarbha and implementation of financial packages announced by the prime minister and the chief minister, Chavan said both the packages have been fully implemented.
But he admitted that there might be some loopholes and mismanagement somewhere and government will conduct a probe to ascertain the facts.
To a question, Chavan denied that a proposed orange processing plant at Nandgaonpeth in Amravati was being shifted to his hometown Nanded. About duration of winter session, Chavan said government will not curtail it and it is for the opposition and the Business Advisory Committee to decide.
From our side, we are ready to have it for even four weeks, he said.