Nagpur: Shiv Sena MLC Diwakar Raote on Monday alleged corruption in Akola airport project which is yet to begin operations five years after its inauguration and pointed fingers at former union aviation minister and NCP stalwart Praful Patel. The opposition members staged a walkout after on minister of state Fouzia Khan's reply terming it "unsatisfactory".
Raote was speaking in the Council on calling attention motion by Gopikisan Bajoriya, Anil Parab and other members. The members accused the government of misleading the house by giving different answers on the Akola airport issue every time it was raised. "Patel had inaugurated the airport on which Rs25 crores of public money was spent. Sadly, not a single aircraft flies from it. How much are the kickbacks, the government must explain," Raote said.
Other members stated the issue had come up for the discussion as many as seven times in different sessions. However, the government failed to provide satisfactory reply.
18/12/12 Times of India
