Dhananjay Munde.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mumbai: Under fire of the Opposition and ruling parties alike, NCP’s Dhananjay Munde on Tuesday resigned as state’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister as a fallout of the sensational Santosh Deshmukh murder case and mushrooming extortion racket, in which his close aide Walmik Karad has been named as a mastermind.
However, trouble for the 49-year-old politician, a Vanjari-OBC community leader from Beed in Marathwada region, continue to mount as now his detractors - from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi as well as the ruling Maha Yuti-NDA - are demanding an FIR against him and wanted to know whether the conspiracy of extortion demand was hatched in Satpura, his official bungalow.
The resignation of Munde came only after a “stern message” from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, as the government was facing vehement criticism.
Had Munde not resigned, he would have been sacked.
Around midnight, Fadnavis drove to Devgiri, the bungalow of Deputy CM and NCP President Ajit Pawar, where he was joined by NCP Working President Praful Patel, state unit President Sunil Tatkare.
This happened around a time when distributing videos and photos of the December 9 abduction, torture, inhuman treatment and murder of Santosh Deshmukh (45), the three-time Sarpanch of Massajog and BJP worker went viral on social media platforms.
In the wee hours, Maratha reservation campaigner Manoj Jarange Patil, who was in hospital, took discharge and rushed to Deshmukh family, where his brother Dhananjay Deshmukh broke down even as several organisations called for an impromptu Beed bandh.
In the morning, Munde’s PS and OSD drove to Sagar, the bungalow of the CM and handed over the papers.
“Munde has tendered resignation. I have accepted his resignation. It has been forwarded to Governor (CP Radhakrishnan) for further action,” Fadnavis said.
“Munde has resigned on moral grounds,” Pawar said.
However, Munde’s reaction on social media came as a surprise when he mentioned health grounds. “My stand from the very first day has been that the accused in the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh from Massajog in Beed district should receive the harshest possible punishment. Seeing the photos that came up yesterday has deeply pained my heart. The investigation of this case has been completed, and the chargesheet has been filed in the court. Additionally, a judicial inquiry has also been proposed,” he said.
“Considering that my health has not been okay for the past few days, and doctors have advised me to undergo treatment for the next few days. Therefore, for medical reasons as well, I have submitted my resignation from my ministerial position in the cabinet to the CM,” he said.
However, Tatkare clarified that Munde has resigned on “moral grounds”.
Why so late, asks Opposition
The Opposition, MVA, however, asked Fadnavis, who is also the state’s Home Minister, for acting late as the photos/videos linked to the murder were available to the police for over two months now.
“Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar had all the information about the Deshmukh case. They would have seen how barbaric the crime was. My question is, ‘Did it not unsettle them? Did it not hurt their conscience?’. Today, they have sought Munde’s resignation because of pressure from the Opposition and the public outcry,” said NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar.
BJP MLA Suresh Dhas claimed that the meeting on extortion bid was held in the Satpura bungalow. “Irrespective of whether Munde remains a minister, he has to answer if a meeting took place about the extortion at Satpura bungalow,” he said. He further claimed that state Minister Pankaja Munde had said in Sawargaon that the NCP leader completely depended on Karad.
“In that case, how could the murder of the sarpanch have taken place without Munde’s knowledge?” Dhas asked.
We want justice: Dhananjay Deshmukh
Speaking on behalf of the Santosh Deshmukh family, his brother Dhananjay Deshmukh said that what they want is justice. "Even if the Cabinet resigns, my brother will not come back…we have been seeking justice for past three months, but nothing seems to be happening,” said Dhananjay after Beed MP Bajrang Sonawane and Maratha reservation campaigner Manoj Jarange met him separately.
“I could see just one photo…could not see the rest of the photos and videos,” Dhananjay Deshmukh said, breaking down inconsolably. “I have faith in destiny…I am sure we will get justice,” he said.
Dhananjay should have resigned earlier: Pankaja
State Environment Minister Pankaja Munde said that Dhananjay should have been sworn in as a minister and even if, he should have put down his papers earlier.
"I welcome the resignation. He (Dhananjay Munde) should have resigned earlier; it would have been better that way. He would have found a dignified way out of all this suffering," she said, adding, “When we take up a post, we should think of every person of the state as equal. The decision to resign is nothing compared to the pain and suffering of the Deshmukh family. He has made the right decision. Better late than never.”