Congress gag order on Adarsh housing scam

NEW DELHI - The Congress Monday asked its Maharashtra leaders not to air their views on the Adarsh housing society scam in which Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is under the party scanner.

Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said that leaders having an opinion on the issue have been asked to give it to the two member committee of union ministers Pranab Mukherjee and A.K. Antony who are investigating Chavan’s role after it was found that some of his relatives own flats in the society meant for the families of Kargil martyrs.

The inquiry is being carried out by two very senior leaders with unblemished record of public service. Anyone who wants to say anything in the matter should give views to them, Ahmed told reporters.

The gag order comes following statements by former chief minister and union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh about Chavan’s role in changing building by-laws concerning the society.

Chavan last week offered to resign over the housing society scam and asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to take a final call. He was camping in New Delhi since Friday but left for Mumbai Monday morning.