Khadse demands home minister's resignation in Nimbalkar case

Accusing NCP leaders of deliberately trying to cover up the Pawanraje Nimbalkar murder case, BJP leader Eknath Khadse on Monday demanded the resignation of Home minister Jayant Patil owing moral responsibility for the same.

Initiating the debate on Law and order situation in the state in the Legislative Assembly, Khadse said for three years, the murder case was heading nowhere.

"The Government was under pressure from the highest level to cover up the case. It is only after the Nimbalkar family moved the High Court, the case was handed over to the CBI," he said.

NCP MP Padmasinh Patil was arrested from the home of a minister in the state government. When there are ministers in the government who have blood relation with the accused, how can the CBI get information required for the investigations, Khadse asked.

"All ministers who can influence the investigations should withdraw themselves from the government," he demanded.

Khadse said Nimbalkar had exposed Patil's corrupt practices in Osmanabad district co-operative bank and the Terna Sugar factory. "He even contested the assembly elections in 2004 against Patil and lost by 450 votes," Khadse said.

There was pandemonium in the House for some time after Khadse demanded the resignation of Jayant Patil. Shiv Sena-BJP members trooped into the well and shouted slogans against the government and demanded the minister's resignation.

Khadse alleged that former DGP AN Roy was retained by the government after he lost the case against his appointment because his presence at the top hierarchy of the police was required to protect the accused in the Nimbalkar case.

"If Roy is so efficient, the government should depute him as a special officer, Naxal operations," he said.

Khadse said in the last two years, 64 elected representatives have been killed in broad daylight.

The BJP leader also highlighted the latest issue of a magazine which has given details of police wireless message records during November 26,2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.

He said police officials who died on that day lost their lives due to police negligence.

"Even Salaskar, Kamte, Karkare lay on the streets for 40 minutes after they were attacked," he said.