Pune: As opposition leaders trained their guns on the ruling alliance over increasing hit-and-run and drugs cases in the city, State Higher and Technical Minister Chandrakant Patil said that such incidents did not take place when he was the Guardian Minister of the district.
The hit-and-run case in Kalyani Nagar and various drugs cases were reported in Pune, following which the police started acting against pubs and bars in the city.
On Sunday, another incident came to light when minors were seen consuming drugs at a pub on Fergusson College Road in a video clip on social media. Several people were arrested and some cops were suspended after the incident at L3- Liquid Leisure Lounge pub on FC Road.
Opposition leaders criticised the ruling parties, the State Excise Department and the Police Department. MLA Ravindra Dhangekar and Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare launched a broadside against the ruling combine.
In this backdrop, Chandrakant Patil said, “Such serious incidents did not take place when I was the Guardian Minister.” People immediately tried to interpret his statement. They asked who he was trying to target with this.
Later, Patil tried to clarify his statement. He said, “I do not remember whether such incidents happened or not during my tenure. You also may not remember them. But it cannot be claimed that they did not take place. Earlier, Pune’s population was 14 lakh. Now it is 70 lakh. Industry, business, education and health care have been growing in the city. Crowds are swelling on the roads. Therefore, the police should take care and should not lose their grip on criminals.”
The narcotics issue has been a burning problem in Pune for the past few years. After the FC road drug case a video clip went viral, Dhangekar and Andhare hit out at the government. Replying to their criticism, Patil said, “It is not proper to hold a minister directly responsible for such incidents. It is justified if it is proved that a minister is involved in any such case.”
