Mumbai: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Anjali Damania, social activist and former AAP leader, have questioned how Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis could attend a book launch for Sunil Tatkare, where Ajit Pawar was expected to be present.

The latter two individuals are under investigation in an irrigation scam.

The groups planned to hold a silent protest at Ravindra Natya Mandir on Monday evening where Tatkare, from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was expected to hold a book launch to be attended by Fadnavis, Sharad Pawar, president of NCP along with other party leaders, Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar, Congressman Sushilkumar Shinde and Narayan Rane (who recently left the Congress to form his own party and back the BJP-led government), among others.

“Bravo, CM you have done a great job. You will now share the dais with the cleanest people of Maharashtra. Why did you even fight the irrigation scam? Rest in peace,” said Damania.

“Today is a black day for the farmers of Maharashtra. The money looted in the irrigation scam will never come back. The farmers’, citizens’ and activists’ fight against corruption has gone futile.”

She said BJP leaders like Fadnavis, Kirit Somaiya and Vinod Tawde came into prominence during elections by promising that Tatkare and Ajit Pawar would be sent to jail. Last year, Somaiya had said that both these men will be “spend the coming Diwali in jail” like Chhagan Bhujbal. “But here we see all of them celebrating Diwali not in jail but together sharing sweets.

“This clearly shows that all the political parties are hand in glove and just put on a veil during the legislative session, which seems to be extremely unfortunate for the citizens of this country.”

AAP also said the chief minister, while in opposition, had announced the two men would be in jail 100 days after his government came to power.

“The same CM who announced an open inquiry against them in the irrigation scam is now seen cosying up with them.”

A probe in to the irrigation scam was ordered following a public interest litigation filed by Damania in the Bombay High Court.