Politician-mafia nexus killed Yashwant Sonawane: BJP
Indias? main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday alleged that nexus between oil mafia and Congress- Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) politicians was behind the killing of killing of Malegaon additional district collector (ADC) Yashwant Sonawane.
?The gruesome murder of Dy. Collector of Nasik Late Mr. Yashwant Sonawane is the result of well established nexus between the oil mafias and ruling politicians who protect them. It is a blatant case of worst kind of criminalization in the infamous adulteration industry,? said BJP National spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.
?It is surprising why the new Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Prithviraj Chavan is shying away from a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) enquiry. State police enquiry won?t be able to reveal as to who was protecting the culprit Mr. Popat Shinde and others.
?A continued adulteration racket cannot sustain without political protection. Last 11 years of Congress-NCP rule in Maharashtra has protected all types of mafias, may be land or oil,? said the BJP MP.
Javadekar said more than 4 million tons (or about 520,00,00,000 liters) of kerosene is diverted every year and is either sold in the black-market or mixed easily in diesel.
?This adulteration business has now a 25,000 crore annual turnover, as the price difference is Rs. 12 at which it is distributed in PDS & Rs. 40 a selling price of diesel. There are thousands of fixed installations, particularly at the site of closed factories where tankers often come for mixing kerosene with diesel. These facts are known to administration. But, a nexus of oil mafias ? corrupt officials ?corrupt rulers allows it to continue.?
?BJP demands a comprehensive CBI enquiry to unearth this unholy nexus in general and specific people protecting the oil mafias in Manmad case,? he said.
BJP also demands immediate review of the subsidy regime in kerosene, which can ensure kerosene coupons for the poor and prevent any scope for adulteration, said the MP.
Sonawane was burnt alive on Tuesday at Manmad, about 10kms from Malegaon, in Maharashtra?s Nashik district, by an oil mafia.
The ADC had stopped to check suspicious oil tankers on the road while returning from a neighbouring area when the oil black marketers, led by Shinde, attacked him and set him ablaze.
The main accused Popat Shinde is among those arrested.
Shinde also sustained burn injuries and is being treated at a hospital.
An upright officer, Sonawane was promoted as ADC after serving at a deputy collector.
His last rites were performed at Nashik on Tuesday night.
The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to family of Sonawane and said his full salary will be paid to the family till his retirement.
Sonawane is survived by his wife and two children.