Mumbai, Agency
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal today demanded that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi be transferred from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat to the Anda Cell of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail for interrogation, alleging a breakdown of law and order in the state.
Addressing a press conference at the party head office Tilak Bhavan, he questioned whether the BJP-led Mahayuti government was giving the Bishnoi gang a free hand in Maharashtra. He alleged that the gangster was issuing threats to public representatives and Bollywood personalities and was linked to firing incidents and murders.
Referring to the recent firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff, he accused the state government of failing to maintain law and order. He also referred to the murder of a former minister and alleged that the rise in crime and gang-related activities reflected the failure of the Home Department.
Sapkal criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, and demanded that the state appoint a capable, full-time Home Minister.
The Congress leader also demanded an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into allegations involving an alleged Rs 500 crore financial transaction, following an audio clip released by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil.
Sapkal called for an investigation into the identities mentioned in the audio clip and sought clarification on the source and movement of the alleged funds. He also demanded the arrest of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and MP Shrikant Shinde, whose names he claimed were mentioned in connection with the allegations.
Raising questions over union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's reported association with controversial American financier and sex offender late Jeffrey Epstein, Sapkal questioned why action had not been taken against the minister. He referred to a photograph reportedly showing Puri with Epstein and called for a transparent inquiry into the circumstances of their meeting.
The Congress leader also criticised BJP minister Parinay Fuke over his allegations against senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing the BJP and the RSS of engaging in character assassination of political opponents.
Highlighting the severe drought situation in Maharashtra, Sapkal accused the state government of failing to provide adequate assistance to distressed farmers.
With the Diwali festival approaching, he demanded that the government deposit Rs 1 lakh per hectare directly into farmers' bank accounts before the festival and announce a complete farm loan waiver.
He also called for the establishment of cattle fodder camps, arrangements for drinking water, financial assistance for agricultural labourers and the provision of 12 free LPG cylinders to eligible beneficiaries.
Further demands included the restoration of the earlier employment guarantee scheme, a waiver of all educational fees for students and free state transport bus passes for them.
Sapkal alleged that the government was making announcements without providing adequate relief on the ground and urged it to take immediate measures to address the distress faced by farmers and rural communities.
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