Central agencies being misused for political interests: Sharad Pawar

NCP president Sharad Pawar has claimed the ED action against the brotherinlaw of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was politically motivated and said misuse of central agencies is an important issue facing the country at presentThe Enforcement Directorate ED has said it has attached assets worth Rs 645 crore of a company owned by Shridhar Madhav Patankar Thackerays brotherinlaw in connection with a moneylaundering probe Speaking to reporters at Baramati in Pune district Pawar when asked about the ED action said The misuse of these tools central agencies is one of the important issues in front of the country Their various actions clearly show there is a programme to harass some people due to political or some other motiveThe NCP leader whose party is a key constituent of the Thackerayled MVA government quipped that five to ten years ago nobody knew that an institution like the ED existed but today the financial investigation agency has reached even rural areas Unfortunately the misuse of all these tools is currently going on Lets see there are some alternatives to this but it is better not to discuss it now the former Union minister said Earlier in the day the ED said it has issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA to attach 11 residential flats in Neelambari project located in Thane near Mumbai of Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Pvt LtdPatankar owns and controls Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Pvt Ltd the central agency said The agency alleged funds that were allegedly siphoned off in a money laundering case being investigated against a company named Pushpak Bullion were parked in the real estate projects of Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Pvt LtdED action against Thackeray kin out of political vendetta SenaThe ED action against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays brotherinlaw stems from political vendetta and portends monstrous dictatorship in the country Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut claimed Interacting with the media in Mumbai Raut accused judiciary administration and central probe agencies of behaving as if they are slaves to dictatorial tendencies and added justice cannot be expected from courts in the atmosphere that is prevailing in the country at presentThe Sena leaders strongly worded reaction came after the Enforcement Directorate ED said it has attached assets worth Rs 645 crore of a company owned by Shridhar Madhav Patankar Thackerays brotherinlaw in connection with a money laundering investigation Thackeray is also the president of the Shiv Sena which heads the threeparty Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government Raut said Shiv Sena leaders were ready to go jail if the BJPled central government wants to take such a step and added the party will fight the battle for freedom and democracy The Rajya Sabha member said the BJP should iquestwake upiquest if it thinks the MVA government in the state can be brought down by pressurising its iquestmain pillariquest a reference to SenaSpeaking to reporters at Baramati in Pune district NCP president Sharad Pawar whose party is a key constituent of the MVA alleged misuse of the machinery by the Centre The former Union minister said such misuse of the resources by the Centre is the biggest issue the country is faced with at present Pressurising those who have defeated you in polls or political opponents from states where you are not in power using central agencies in this manner portends monstrous dictatorshipiquestmost of the EDs actions have been taken in the states where the BJP is not in power Raut said He claimed the ED action was taken out of vendetta to put pressure on BJPs political opponents and to create sensation without giving opportunity to one to keep forth hisher sideiquestSuch actions are taken to show political opponents that they can be made to bow down using central probe agencies and are being taken not only in Maharashtra but also in every state where the BJP is not in power he alleged Raut said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees nephew Abhishek Banerjee too was called to New Delhi for probe by a central agency The Sena MP said during the 10year Congressled UPA regime 20042014 a maximum of 22 to 23 actions were taken by the ED But the EDs actions have gone up manifold after the Modi government was formed Raut said Patanakar is a family member and related not only to Thackeray and the CMs wife Rashmi but also the Shiv SenaHe accused the Centre of taking such actions only in states like West Bengal Maharashtra Tamil Nadu Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh where the BJP is not in power The biggest bank scam took place in BJPruled Gujarat but no accused has been summoned or arrested or their assets seized he alleged apparently referring to the loan fraud case involving ABG Shipyard But neither West Bengal will bow down nor Maharashtra will break If you think the government can be brought down by pressurising the main pillar of the MVA government and the Presidents rule can be imposed here then you wake up Nothing of this sort will happen here he assertedI dont think we can expect justice from courts in such an atmosphere But the biggest court is the peoplethe people of Maharashtra are familiar with the Thackeray family he added Raut alleged even courts are under pressure in the current atmosphere and said such a thing has never happened in the country beforeThis is a dangerous beginning of dictatorship If you BJP have won in four states it does not mean you have become the owner of the country If you want to jail us then be ready We all are ready to go to jail We are ready to fight the battle for freedom and democracy once again he added We have brought to light with evidence corruption cases of several key BJP people We have sent the same to the ED CBI and PMO There are cases that can shock the country but you BJP have targeted only us Raut said Asked about the ED action Pawar said The misuse of the resources central agencies is the biggest issue before the country at presentiquestsuch an action has been taken to trouble someone out of political or some other motive Pawar said not many people knew about the ED until 5 to 10 years ago iquestBut it is known even in villages now because of the misuse of the agency he added However the BJP defended the ED actionBJP legislator Atul Bhatkhalkar said the move was a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis crusade against corruption Speaking to reporters Bhatkhalkar said PM Modi has started an anticorruption crusade and ED actions are part of it ED officials have been unearthing corrupt practicesiquest Another BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said We will not let corrupt people walk away easilyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever