New Delhi , Oct 17 (ANI): India Against Corruption (IAC) activist Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari of having a huge business empire in Maharashtra , and alleged that the former and NCP leader Ajit Pawar were hand-in-glove with each other in the irrigation scam.
\nKejriwal accused Gadkari of corruption and claimed that his businesses are flourishing at the cost of farmers.
\n“Nitin Gadkari has a huge business empire in Maharashtra . We want to know if his interests as a businessman are clashing with that of the farmers. Gadkari and Ajit Pawar are working in tandem. Gadkari’s business interests clash with Vidharba farmers,” Kejriwal told mediapersons at the Constitution Club here. “Ajit Pawar has diverted irrigation water to power industry. Gadkari was given 100 hectares of farmers’ land at behest of Ajit Pawar. The land given to Gadkari in Vibhadra is in violation of government order,” he added.
\nKejriwal further said that Gadkari’s business interest clashed with Vidharba farmers.
\n“100 hectares of farmers land given to Gadkari’s Purti Power and Sugar Industries Ltd. Gadkari placed business interests over farmers’ well being. Gadkari’s business interests also led to farmers’ suicides. The land was snatched from farmers and given to Gadkari,” said Kejriwal ” Maharashtra irrigation scam is worth Rs. 70 crores. Rs. 70 crores was spent, but nothing was spent on farmers. There is NCP-BJP nexus in irrigation scam in Maharashtra . Gadkari has five power and three sugar firms in Maharashtra ,” he added.
\nKejriwal further alleged that Gadkari’s firms used all water from the Vadgaon dam. “The dam water was used for irrigating Gadkari’s industries, not for irrigation,” he added.<\/p>\n\n