Supriya Sule Defends FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal Amid ACB Raid Controversy
In a significant political development, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule has publicly supported food and drug administration (FDA) minister Narhari Zirwal following an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) action in his Mantralaya office last week. Sule expressed deep shock over the incident, particularly criticizing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for initiating the raid on his own minister's office.
Demand for Transparency from Chief Minister
Supriya Sule has called upon Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to disclose the source of the tip-off that led to the ACB raid in Zirwal's office. She emphasized the proximity of the events, stating, "The chief minister sits on the sixth floor and the ACB conducted the raid on the floor below it. This shows that the corruption was happening right under his nose." Sule argued that as the home portfolio holder, under which the ACB operates, Fadnavis must provide a detailed statement on the entire case to ensure accountability and transparency.
Details of the ACB Action and Political Reactions
The ACB team arrested a clerk, Raju Dherange, from the FDA office in Mantralaya while he was accepting a bribe of Rs35,000 last week. Notably, Minister Narhari Zirwal was in Delhi at the time of the raid. In response, Zirwal acknowledged the action as a blot on the department and initiated an internal inquiry to address the issue.
While opposition parties, including Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), have demanded Zirwal's resignation over the incident, Supriya Sule has taken a contrasting stance. Interacting with reporters in Delhi, she defended Zirwal, saying, "I have known Zirwal for many years and we worked together. He is a self-made man and he took a lot of effort to reach this height. It is quite shocking to see an action by the ACB in his Mantralaya office." She further highlighted the unusual nature of the raid, noting that it targeted the office of a cabinet colleague, which she described as unprecedented and concerning.
Broader Implications for Maharashtra Governance
This incident has sparked a debate on governance and anti-corruption measures in Maharashtra. Sule's support for Zirwal underscores internal political dynamics, while her criticism of Fadnavis raises questions about the coordination and oversight within the state administration. The demand for a detailed explanation from the chief minister reflects growing calls for clarity in handling such sensitive cases, especially when they involve high-ranking officials.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the government will address these concerns and whether further actions will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The focus now shifts to Chief Minister Fadnavis's response and the outcome of the departmental inquiry initiated by Zirwal.
