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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
MUMBAI, DEC 11: Social activist Anna Hazare has once launched his attack on the corruption prevailing in the State governmet and demanded the immediate sacking of the Social Welfare Minister Baban Gholap.
Hazare's demand is expected to rock the State legislature when the winter session starts on Monday. Hazare today faxed a letter to the chief minister, Manohar Joshi, expressing displeasure over inaction on part of the CM.
Joshi had told journalists on Tuesday that the police was investigating into alleged cases of misappropriation of funds by Gholap and said he would not intervene in the case. Recently, a metropolitan magistrate in Mumbai had held Hazare guilty of defaming Gholap by levelling allegations against him. Hazare was sentenced to three month simple imprisonment and the State government had, in its own capacity, ordered the release of Hazare from the jail.
Hazare's letter, titled about resignation of Baban Gholap, reads: ``I have been insisting about an enquiry into corruption by Social Welfare Minister Baban Gholap after I submitted proofs to you since May 20, 1997. There is no action from you despite regular correspondence. It is understood that you are aware of the Awami Merchant Bank case, the permission to disabled school case, the tribal school case, the powerloom case, the frozen bank account case and the leather industry-woman-children welfare case. What is the point in shielding the minister in this situation?'' asked Hazare.
He further added, ``I request you to sack the minister without any further delay and the investigations should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The minister has publicly said that he is ready to face any inquiry. If you fail to transfer the investigations to the CBI, it would mean that you have vested interest in the matter. I once again request you to sack the minister and order an inquiry into the matter,'' Hazare's letter read. Neither the chief minister nor the accused minister were available for comments.
Hazare has threatened Joshi that he would resort to agitation if he failed to sack Gholap. ``If your government continues to shield the minister, I will have no choice but to go to the people's court once again. I had resorted to fast at Alandi to protest corruption by Congress leaders. Now, I will stage a fast either at Alandi or at Rajghat in New Delhi,'' the letter added.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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