Pankaja calls graft charge ‘scam of words’

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, July 1

Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde, under attack for allegedly awarding contracts worth Rs 206 crore in a single day to different parties without going through the e-tendering system, dismissed allegations against her as a “scam of words”.

Claiming to have saved money for the state exchequer, Munde claimed that various items such as chikki, books and equipment for anganwadis were purchased at far cheaper rates as compared to the previous Congress-NCP regime. “The previous regime purchased these items for Rs 408 crore. You call that a purchase but term our procurement a scam,” Munde said, adding: “It is a scam of words.”

Blaming politicians from the rival Congress and the NCP for the allegations against her, Munde said elaborate attempts were being made to entangle every BJP minister in some scam. “The Opposition wants to show all BJP ministers in a bad light,” Munde said.

Expressing her resolve to continue with her ways, the daughter of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde said her aim was to ensure nutrition for underprivileged children. “I am determined to ensure that no child is malnourished and I will ensure it happens regardless of what has happened,” Munde said.

Justifying her decision to bypass the e-tendering system put in place by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Munde said the rate contract system under which she ordered purchase of the items had been in force for long. “There is no loss of even a rupee,” Munde said. She further added that the department was willing to face any probe by the anti-corruption bureau or any other agency.

She said: “No one in the BJP is targeting me. I am absolutely sure of that.”

Munde also denied that the state BJP had left her to fend for herself with no senior ministers attending her press conference. She said she had spoken to senior ministers before addressing the press and that she had their full support.