Pune: Congress has criticised District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat for making a false promise to withdraw police cases against Ganesh mandal workers. Former Member of Legislative Council (MLC) of Congress Mohan Joshi and former corporator Sanjay Balgude condemned Bapat at a press conference held on Friday. 

Joshi said, “Bapat assured Ganesh mandal workers last year that the government will withdraw police cases against them during Ganesh festival. However, the government has not withdrawn a single case against any worker. 

Bapat has given false promises to mandal workers. Police filed cases against mandals and their workers under the Noise Pollution Act. During each Ganesh festival meeting, Bapat gives assurance to mandals about withdrawing cases.”

Balgude alleged, “Recently Bapat made an announcement that he will pay fees of box frame of pandals and running of the pandals to the corporation from his MLA fund. He forgot that there is no such provision in law.”