Pawar meets Modi, says raised ED action on Raut
MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday met Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, later saying that he raised the Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s recent action against ally and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Maharashtra governor’s alleged delay in approving 12 names recommended by the state cabinet for nomination to the Legislative Council.
The NCP leader met Modi in Parliament along with party Lok Sabha member PP Mohammad Faizal. Addressing reporters after the 20-minute meeting, Pawar said he flagged the issues of central agencies targeting Raut and told the PM that injustice was being done against the senior Parliamentarian.
“On what basis was action taken against Sanjay Raut? This is injustice. What was the provocation? Just because he is making some statements and criticisms does not mean action should be taken against him. What was the need,” the former Maharashtra chief minister said.
The ED on Thursday attached properties linked to Raut and his family in connection with an alleged ₹1,034crore Patra Chawl land fraud
case, prompting strong criticism from Maharashtra’s ruling alliance.
Raut termed the action as an attack on the “middle class Marathi manoos (man)” and claimed he was being targeted by the BJP as he did not support the alleged efforts to bring down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra.
Hours before the NCP chief’s meeting with Modi, the CBI took custody of former Maharashtra home minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh in a corruption case. “The NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena (all part of MVA) have been taking a stand against BJP and will continue to do so,” Pawar asserted.
The NCP chief said he also discussed the issue of alleged inaction of governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on the Maharashtra government’s proposal regarding nominations to the state Legislative Council.
Twelve MLC seats have remained vacant since June 2020. On November 6, 2020, the state cabinet approved a list of 12 candidates for the seats.
The list was subsequently shared with governor Koshyari and is awaiting approval.
“For the last two-and-half years, 12 MLC seats have remained vacant. These seats are from the governor’s quota. The Maharashtra government had submitted the list two years ago but it is still pending with the governor, leaving the posts vacant even today. I brought this to the notice of the Prime Minister…,” Pawar said.
The NCP chief expressed hopes that the PM Modi will take serious cognisance of the two matters.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and former finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar criticised Pawar for discussing the issues that are not directly related with the common people.
“I was expecting that Pawar saheb will discuss major issues concerning Maharashtra such as OBC reservation, Maratha reservation, joint efforts by the state and the Centre for bringing investment in Maharashtra but instead he chose to take 20-25 minutes of the Prime Minister for discussing action against Sanjay Raut and appointment of 12 MLCs. How will raising such issues help poor and downtrodden,” he asked.