Parliamentarian quits Pawar’s party

Resignation comes a day after NCP’s move to defend prime minister Modi over Rafale deal

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) parliamentarian Tariq Anwar yesterday resigned from the party and also as a Lok Sabha Member shortly after party chief Sharad Pawar had defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal.

Anwar, who was one of NCP’s three founding members, represents Katihar seat from Bihar in the Lok Sabha. He has not revealed his next move but it looks like he is headed for the Congress, the party he was long associated with before joining the NCP.

“I have been deeply hurt by the statements of Mr Pawar wherein he sought to give a ‘clean chit’ to the prime minister, while everyone knows that the latter is completely involved in the controversial deal. Hence, it was difficult for me to stay with the party,” Anwar told the media at Katihar.

He alleged that Modi was completely involved in the controversial deal and yet to prove his innocence in the matter. “The statement by the former French president confirms the big scam in the Rafale deal,” Anwar said.

He said the aircraft deal is mired in controversy and the entire opposition is seeking a detailed probe into the issue. “It’s really strange how a PM tried to help an individual in the deal. This is very serious but the NCP chief’s statements appear to clear the PM,” Anwar added.

His resignation comes barely a day after NCP chief Pawar had come to Modi’s defence, saying he thinks people do not doubt the PM’s intentions. Pawar also described as “nonsense” the opposition’s demand to share technical details relating to the fighter jets.