After State Social Justice Minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Saturday accused the state finance department of "high-handedness" for "illegal" diversion of funds from his department without his knowledge, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar criticised the minister saying it was an internal matter of the cabinet and there was no need to discuss it publicly. "There was no reason to make an internal matter public. If required, I will sit and discuss the issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde besides Sanjay Shirsat. On May 6, there will be a cabinet meeting where we will discuss the issue. If there is any misunderstaning, will seek to resolve it. If any mistaken has happened we will correct it,'' said Ajit Pawar while speaking to reporters when he was asked about the angry outburst from Shirsat. Speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shirsat, while calling to shut down the Social Justice Department, said, "Earlier the finance department had diverted Rs 7,000 crore from my department. They had kept me in the dark. If the government does not intend to let the social justice department function, then it should shut down this department. You can call it injustice or whatever. I have no clue about the reason for the diversion of funds," he said. Shirsat alleged that Rs 413.30 crore from the social justice department's allocation were diverted. "I will raise the issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The diversion of funds is illegal. The high-handed behaviour of the finance department is not appropriate," he said. Ajit Pawar, who heads the finance department, said he had kept the Chief Minister in the loop about his decision. "I had informed the Chief Minister about my decision. While making the budget, we make special provision for various sections of the society. For others, provision is made in the general budget. While sanctioning funds for Ladki Bahin Yojana, we sanctioned funds for tribal women from the tribal department. I don't think we have done anything different. This decision was taken during the cabinet meeting. After we make the budget, we take the signature of everyone including Chief Minster and Deputy Chief Ministers besides the signatures of the ministers." Shirsat flared up after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve, in a tweet, alleged that the government has diverted funds meant for tribals to pay the instalment to womenfolk under Ladki Bahin Yojana. ''Of the Rs 3,420 crore which the tribal department was supposed to get for this fiscal, finance ministry has diverted Rs 335 crore funds for Ladki Bahin Yojana," he said. The Uddhav Sena alleged that a total of Rs 743 crore has been diverted. ''The Social Justice Department has been provided Rs 3,960 crore for this fiscal. Of this, Rs 410 crore has been diverted," the Sena said.
