The fallout of the Maharashtra political slugfest found mention in both houses of Parliament, where BJP MPs raised slogans demanding the resignation of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Speaking exclusively to The Sunday Guardian, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that what is more embarrassing than the MVA’s act is the attempt to justify it.
Q: Today Maharashtra’s Home Minister faced accusations of extortion. What do you think about it?
A: See, I think the accusations of ransom and extortion are shameful. Even more embarrassing than that is that an attempt is being made to justify it. Such big corruption is not good for Maharashtra’s health. The party that is justifying it is also not good for its own health.
Q: Sharad Pawar says that Anil Deshmukh has not done anything wrong and will not resign. What does the BJP think about this?
A: I think that there’s nothing which is more wrongful than this. The allegation itself is very heinous. If they reject the allegations, the public will reject them.
Q: Maha Vikas Aghadi has alleged that the Central government is using the CBI for conducting the investigation into Anil Deshmukh’s allegations since it is a central agency.
A: This has been a trend now. Whenever anyone has been charged by the CBI, they have alleged it as a move made by the Central government. I think they are just putting water on the fire by blaming it back on the Central government.