Pune: Facing a host of allegations including land grabbing, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse on Friday said that he has not received any directive from the BJP central leadership on the charges against him.
Khadse, considered number two in Maharashtra cabinet, dubbed the charges as "baseless".
Yesterday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah over the issue had fuelled the speculations of Khadse losing his ministerial birth. He told a television channel he was not given any directive by the leadership but asserted he would abide by its decision.
"I have not received any directive from the party. I am a loyal BJP worker and will act according to any directive coming from the party," he said.
Asked about his whereabouts -- which has given rise to speculation that he is sulking -- Khadse said, "I am in the country and Maharashtra. I am at present working on proposals to deal with drought situation if the monsoon is delayed."
He maintained he was ready to face punishment if found guilty of wrongdoing.
"But what is happening at present is only baseless allegations without any proof. Astronomical figures are being spoken of in the transactions involving me. Time will tell who is behind this making me a target," he said, adding it had taken him four decades of hard work to build a political career which his detractors were seeking to destroy.
Khadse, a senior BJP leader and considered "number two" in the Cabinet, is facing heat over a host of allegations including irregularities in a land deal in Pune and calls allegedly received from mob boss Dawood Ibrahim's residence in Karachi on his mobile phone.
He is in a spot over the purchase of a three-acre Maharashtra Industrial Development Corp land in Pune allegedly at a low price of around Rs 3.75 crore from its original owner in the name of his wife and son-in-law. The market value of the land is reportedly Rs 40 crore.
(With inputs from PTI)
