Why Modi should sack Maharashtra minister Khadse

Maharashtra revenue minister Eknath Khadse should resign or chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should dismiss him without sparing any time. The minister has violated the very causes which are espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi - of "zero tolerance towards corruption" and "national security". The senior most minister in the Fadnavis government is accused of being involved in dubious land deals and remaining in constant touch with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim over phone.

It is beyond comprehension why the state government has not ordered any probe into the allegations against the minister even though he has misused his official position. Khadse, who holds additional portfolios of agriculture, relief and rehabilitation and minority affairs, in multiple cases, is in a position to influence witnesses and destroy evidence. His continuation as a minister will affect probes, whenever they take place. Hence, he should be removed as a minister forthwith.

1. Controversial land deals

In fact, Khadse stooped down to a level of a real estate broker to buy a piece of highly expensive land, worth about Rs 23 crore at market rate. It is common knowledge that brokers buy controversial pieces of land. Then, in connivance with the musclemen, police and revenue officials, they manage to get the land cleared and eventually sell it at an astronomical price. In the process, they get massive windfall gains.

Khadse adopted the same modus operandi and misused his position. As a revenue minister, he came to know of the controversy surrounding the three-acre land in Bhosari, near Pune, and tried to take undue advantage of the situation. Abbas Ukani, the original land owner, is in dispute with Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC). While MIDC claims that it had acquired the property in 1971, both Ukani and Khadse have contested it.

They maintain that the acquisition process, which started in 1971, was not completed, and the compensation amount had not been awarded. In September 2015, Ukani approached the Bombay High Court and the next date was fixed for June 28. However, in the meantime, on April 27, Khadse's wife Mandakini and son-in-law Girish Chaudhari bought the property at Rs 3.75 crore.

Khadse bought the property in full knowledge of the controversy surrounding it as the MIDC had cautioned him and tried to reason out with him that it was their property. MIDC regional manager Sujata Kulkarni is on record stating that MIDC had acquired the three-acre land and divided it into 15 plots - among 14 industrialists and a civic body.

Khadse is also guilty of conflict of interest and misusing his position as a minorities welfare minister. Ukani, 90 and residing in Kolkata, sought his help in disposing of the property and suggested him to buy it. That was because he was not getting buyers owning to the matter being sub judice. As Khadse could not buy the property himself, for he was a minister, he accepted Ukani's suggestion that members of his family could surely buy it, and they did.

2. Calling Dawood Ibrahim

While the Modi government plans to nab Dawood, Khadse is accused of talking to him on the latter's landline number in Pakistan a number of times. This allegation should be probed seriously as it is an anti-national act by any standards. Neither Modi nor BJP president Amit Shah should not tolerate such an act. Khadse should not be allowed to continue on his post for even a minute.

3. Threatening cops to file case against whistleblower

A sting operation by India Today has revealed that Khadse left no stones unturned to intimidate and silence whistleblower Hemant Gawande, who had red-flagged the land grabbing by Khadse.

Due to the grave irregularities he has committed and the mess he finds himself in, Khadse is now a lonely man even in the BJP. He is not likely to get the backing of his ministerial colleagues and the BJP's alliance partner, Shiv Sena, has already demanded he puts down his papers. Maharashtra's industries minister, Sena's Subash Desai, has even raised questions over the controversial land deal and reiterated that the plot belonged to MIDC.

Khadse has dialled the wrong number, at least this time around, clearly.