Nagpur: Maharashtra Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Saturday defended IPS officer Vishwas Nangare Patil over his recent remarks praising the RSS, saying there was ‘no need to view it differently’ as the officer merely acknowledged the organisation’s contribution to nation-building.Speaking to the media here, Bawankule said Nangare Patil’s comments should not be politicised amid criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Congress, which questioned whether a serving IPS officer could publicly praise an ideological organisation.“Vishwas Nangare Patil has appreciated contribution of the RSS in nation-building. There is no need to look at it from a different perspective,” Bawankule said.The minister’s remarks came against backdrop of a growing political controversy after Nangare Patil, a senior IPS officer known for his public outreach and motivational speeches, praised the RSS, Hindutva and RSS founder KB Hedgewar during a recent event. The Maharashtra Congress subsequently raised questions over the political neutrality expected from officers serving under the Constitution.Bawankule, however, rejected suggestions the remarks violated constitutional principles or service conduct norms.While lauding CM Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for travelling on the same flight following a call for austerity measures by PM Narendra Modi, the Kamptee MLA said discussions during such journeys need not always be political.“Various subjects are discussed during travel. It is not necessary that every discussion is political,” he said, adding that political discussions were unlikely in presence of other passengers.During the interaction, Bawankule announced the Maharashtra Cabinet approved complete exemption from stamp duty for widows, mothers and the legal heirs of soldiers and officers killed in the line of duty while transferring govt agricultural land.Calling it a major relief for the families of martyrs, he said the state govt earlier required that such families pay stamp duty for transfer of land.Responding to criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Bawankule described him as a ‘friend’ and suggested the remarks may have been sarcastic. He also said social media comments made by Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant reflected personal sentiments and reiterated the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance has grown stronger over past three decades.The minister further said a task force was constituted to investigate alleged discrepancies in the Revenue department, while criminal action would be initiated against those found guilty in alleged Regional Transport Office corruption cases.
