We never showed arrogance of power: NCP chief Sharad Pawar takes a dig at BJP

Taking a jibe at the Central government-led by the BJP, NCP chief Sharad Pawar claimed that central agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), were being misused to target the opposition parties in Maharashtra.

This came days after the I-T department raided some entities linked to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for six consecutive days.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai today, Pawar also alleged that the Centre, after failing to destabilise the Maharashtra government for the last two years, has now resorted to targeting family members and close associates of leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) by conducting raids.

“We never showed arrogance of power,” the former Union minister was quoted by news agency PTI.

He also said that efforts are being taken by the ruling government at the Centre to defame the political opponents using the central agencies. 

He also targeted the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), recently conducted a number of raids including on some high-profile people, saying the Mumbai Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has done a better job than the central agency.

The NCP chief also slammed the multiple CBI raids on former state home minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with its probe into the leak of its purported Preliminary Enquiry (PE) against Deshmukh. Referring to it, he said that Deshmukh had to step down (as home minister) following allegations levelled against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Raising the issue about neighbouring countries, Pawar said China’s involvement in Kashmir has increased, along with in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, NCP’s coalition partner, Shiv Sena also made a statement on the same and said that if harsh steps are not taken by the government, then China and Pakistan will come together and pose a threat to the very existence of India. The political East India Company in the country should understand this.