BJP minister bats for Bhujbal's release

Mumbai: Minister of state for social justice Dilip Kamble has claimed that the jailed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who was arrested last year in a money-laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate, needs to be released from the prison. “Bhujbal is a fighter. He should be out of jail. The Supreme Court has quashed the article that was binding the court to keep him in jail. So, he will likely come out,” said Mr Kamble, who was sharing a dais with Central minister Upendra Kushwaha and NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Bhujbal’s Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad had organised a programme paying tributes to social reformer on his death anniversary. The speech of Mr Kamble, who was one of the main guests, raised many eyebrows as Bhujbal was jailed during this government’s tenure. Mr Kamble belongs to the BJP, a party which had attacked Bhujbal in the past. “Everyone knows that Bhujbal is a fighter. He will come out of this by fighting a judicial battle,” said Kamble. BJP MP Kirit Somaiya had filed a complaint against Bhujbal. When asked about Mr Kamble’s speech, Mr Somaiya refused to make a comment.

Mr Kushwaha, Union minister of state for rural development, also commented on Bhujbal. “He should have been here in between us to pay tributes to Mahatma Phule. But, unfortunately, he is going through troubled times,” said Mr Kushawaha, who was a functionary in Bhujbal’s outfit Samata Parishad, from 2011 to 2013.