Adarsh land never given to defence, says Shinde

The Adarsh society plot has always belonged to the state and had never been reserved for Kargil war heroes.

The Adarsh society plot has always belonged to the state and had never been reserved for Kargil war heroes. That’s what Union power minister and former chief minister of the state, Sushilkumar Shinde, stated in his affidavit filed before the Adarsh inquiry commission on Thursday.

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“The plot has always belonged to the state of Maharashtra and to no other person, organisation or statutory body. It was not reserved for defence personnel or Kargil war heroes,” the affidavit states.

The Letter of Intent to the society was issued in accordance with the July 9, 1999 government resolution that did not provide for reservation for any class of persons including defence or Kargil heroes, the affidavit states.

Shinde, who has been summoned as a witness before the commission, was the chief minister, also in charge of the Urban Development Department, from January 18, 2003 to November 1, 2004.

He has, however, denied any role in major UDD decisions like changing reservations and reducing the width of Captain Prakash Pethe Marg, changing of reservation of the BEST plot or increasing FSI for the building, saying these were not taken during his tenure.