India Against Corruption Activist, Anjali Damania who joined Anna after she came to know about the irrigation scam and got proof that 70 thousand crores have been spent but farmers are not getting any water. She filed appeal in the Bombay High Court. On Aug 15, she met Nitin Gadkari, hoping that because BJP is in the opposition in Maharashtra, it will focus on this scam. His answer shocked her. He said that Pawar and I have a good relationship...they do work for us, we do work for them.
Gadkari later denied any relationship with Pawar or with his party, the NCP.
When asked about allegations that she raised the irrigation scam because her land was being acquired, Damania rejected the allegations and said government letter has made it clear that whose land were acquired would get money or land in return.
She alleged that dams were being built in the name of farmers were actually used to supply water to power plants set up by politicians of all hues.
"Land in Question Was Given on Lease to a Charitable Trust", Says Gadkari
Rejecting Kejriwal's charges against him of getting land from Maharashtra government, Gadkari said he has been active in Vidharba region of the state as a "social enterprise" to prevent farmer suicides.
Gadkari said the land in question was given on lease to a charitable trust and that he got no personal favours. "The allegations are baseless, wrong and unfortunate...I have been working in the area as a social enterprise for the benefit of farmers...The allegations of land (grabbing) are absurd. Land has been given on lease to a charitable trust which functions like a cooperative. It is not owned by me."
About the charges of a "setting" between him and Ajit Pawar, Gadkari said "Congress' image is going down due to corruption cases and they (IAC) are trying to defame BJP to occupy the opposition party space which belongs to us. This is a conspiracy of Congress and IAC to divide the opposition votes." He refused to elaborate on this issue.
About water for irrigation being directed towards his power plants, Gadkari said "Only 0.85 per cent of this dam water is being used for our power project and the rest goes to farmers for irrigation."
Gadkari added that he was ready for any kind of probe but refused to make public any such letters as demanded by Kejriwal and fellow activist Anjali Damania.
