Pune, July 24: Sushma Andhare, spokesperson for Shiv Sena (UBT), has sharply criticized Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his statements regarding the TET scam. She asserted that the Chief Minister lacks accurate information and needs to correct his statements. According to her, the TET scam did not occur during the Thackeray government but took place in 2018-19, when Fadnavis was the Chief Minister and Vinod Tawde was the Education Minister.
In a conversation with a news agency, Andhare refuted Fadnavis’s claim that the biggest TET scam happened under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, stating that the reality is quite different. The scam emerged during 2018-19, and the government led by Thackeray attempted to investigate and expose the scam after coming to power, providing officials with complete freedom for a fair inquiry. Several individuals linked to the examination department and related agencies were implicated in the case.
Andhare alleged that the contract awarded to GA Software was given during Vinod Tawde’s tenure as Education Minister. She noted that Abhishek Sawrikar, who has been jailed in this case, later joined the BJP. Additionally, a senior IAS officer, Sushil Khodwekar, was given significant responsibilities in the government. Intensifying her attack on the Chief Minister, Andhare stated that the confidence with which Fadnavis makes these claims does not align with the facts, accusing the government of presenting false information to the public.
Commenting on Sonam Wangchuk’s decision to end his hunger strike, Andhare said it was a good decision considering his age and health. However, she clarified that the movement is not over, as students across the country remain involved and it will continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Her party stands firmly with the protesting students, including Abhijit Deepke.
On the issue of police action against protesting students, Andhare criticized the state government and police administration, alleging that many individuals in the crowd lacked police uniforms, nameplates, or identification but were attacking students with sticks. She claimed these individuals were not police officers and that the government used outsiders to take action against the students.
Regarding a video message released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Thursday night, Andhare questioned why the government waited 24 days to convey its message if that was the case. She raised concerns about whether the government is now worried about its political standing, asserting that merely making statements will not resolve the issue, and reiterated her demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
In response to BJP’s allegation that the protesters are not students but Congress workers, Andhare challenged the government and the Home Department to identify them. She argued that if the identities of the protesters are unclear, it reflects a failure on the part of the Home Department and Delhi Police, questioning the operational methods of the central government and the Home Ministry.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
