NASHIK, Sept 22: The Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj (MVPS), the largest educational institution in north Maharashtra, will institute an inquiry into alleged financial lapses during the tenure of its general secretary and former Congress MP, Dr Vasant Pawar, during 1997-98. The president of the MVP at present is state Health Minister Dr Daulatrao Aher, who wrested power from Dr Pawar a year ago.During a marathon meeting, which lasted seven hours yesterday, Dr Pawar was accused of financial irregularities amounting to Rs 65 lakh while constructing a medical college for the institution. He was accused of favouring a contractor who was not the lowest bidder for the work worth Rs 6.34 crore.
Several members including Dr Aher charged Dr Pawar with working against the interests of the institution. Dr Pawar was also accused of depositing Rs 1.09 crore in the Godavari Bank, of which he is chairperson. The MVP had sought a Rs 2-crore loan with Dr Pawar depositing more than half of it in his own bank, the membersalleged.
The issue sparked unruly scenes with supporters of Dr Pawar and Dr Aher interrupting speakers. Dr Pawar walked out in disgust when his speech was interrupted and the chair was not prepared to hear him. Dr Pawar was demanding that the topic be dropped from the agenda till a thorough inquiry was conducted and responsibilities fixed. He also accused his critics of launching a politically-motivated smear campaign against him. Dr Pawar, incidentally, is likely to contest the next Assembly elections and has already started his groundwork.
The MVP's gesture follows a similar move against Shantaramtatya Aher, member of the Legislative Council and arch rival of the health minister. Allegations of financial irregularities were recently levelled against Aher during a general body meeting of the Vasantdada Sugar Cooperative with the health minister reading out details of the cooperative's audit report. The minister took over the reins of the cooperative from Aher some time ago. A resolution to terminateAher's membership from the cooperative was also moved but it was not passed due to technical snags.
Aher, another political rival of the health minister, has filed a public interest litigation against Dr Aher in the Bombay High Court over the purchase of CT Scan and MRI equipment bought by the state government for the JJ Hospital.
The political overtones in each instance are obvious with Assembly elections only 18 months away.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Printer-friendly page