The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar, is gearing up for a demonstration of solidarity at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office on Wednesday, where party MLA Rohit Pawar, the grand-nephew of Sharad Pawar, is set to face questioning. Accompanying Rohit, Sharad Pawar, and Baramati Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, will stand in support as hundreds of party workers assemble at the ED office. Sharad Pawar will remain at the party office during Rohit’s interrogation.
“We are not intending to exert pressure on the agency. We have cooperated with the ED thus far and will continue to do so. We have urged party workers not to gather in front of the ED office,” stated Rohit. The NCP MLA has been summoned in connection with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam.
On Tuesday, the NCP accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of utilizing central agencies to level allegations and initiate investigations against opposition leaders. NCP spokesperson Vikas Lawande highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s previous allegations of a Rs 70,000 crore irrigation corruption case against Ajit Pawar. Lawande pointed out that investigations into these allegations ceased when Ajit Pawar aligned with the BJP.
Lawande criticized the BJP, asserting that their current strategy involves using central agencies to intimidate opposition leaders and lure them into their party. “Their sole objective is to eliminate the opposition,” he remarked.
Rohit Pawar drew attention to the ED’s ongoing probe, linking it to sugar mills associated with Ajit Pawar.
“The investigation in which I am implicated involves 60-70 other sugar mills, including those overseen by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Previous actions involved leaders from various political parties,” Rohit stated.
He expressed confidence in emerging unscathed from the inquiry and pledged to prove the innocence of others implicated in the process.