BJP questions govt move on furnace oil

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday alleged corruption in the passing of a government resolution easing norms for the transport of furnace oil.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday alleged corruption in the passing of a government resolution easing norms for the transport of furnace oil.

HT Image

The GR was passed on January 24, just a day before additional collector Yashwant Sonawane was killed by the fuel oil mafia.

The party’s general secretary and MLC Vinod Tawde said: “Why it is significant to this case is that it exempted furnace oil from being checked by either the police or authorities concerned on its way from the ports to the companies, thus giving the mafia a free hand for thefts. It gave a boost to their mentality which eventually led to this incident.”

He added that Sonawane’s assailants must have had some kind of political support.

Minister of Food and Civil supplies Anil Deshmukh, who had gone to meet Sonawane’s family at Nashik, rubbished Tawde’s allegations saying the resolution came out after instructions from the central petroleum ministry.

Home Minister RR Patil said he had not heard of any political involvement in this matter as yet.

“There are no names of NCP leaders which have come out in the investigation. If I am given proof, I will take strict action,” Patil said.