After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) co-founder Tariq Anwar quit the party, alleging that its supremo Sharad Pawar had given a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale scam, the Congress defended its ally and said the NCP is firm in demanding a Joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the multi-crore aircraft deal.

Anwar also resigned from his Lok Sabha seat, Katihar, saying Pawar’s statement hurt him, and such a stand could not be accepted. “Pawar indirectly gave a clean chit to the PM, in a statement on the Rafale deal. The PM is completely involved in the deal. Opposition is demanding a JPC probe. I’m upset with his statement,” said Anwar.

The NCP termed Anwar’s decision sad. “It is a sad day for us that our senior colleague has decided to quit the Lok Sabha and also the NCP. It’s surprising because he has based his decision on an interview by Sharad Pawar to a news channel wherein facts are clear on the Rafale deal,” senior NCP leader Praful Patel said.

The Congress said Mallikarjun Kharge, the All India Congress Committee general secretary for Maharashtra, had a detailed discussion with Pawar on the interview with a Marathi channel.

‘Creating divisions’

“Pawar categorically told Kharge that the allegation is a conspiracy by the BJP to a create division between the two parties. The NCP is in favour of a JPC probe into the deal,” said Congress media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Surjewala added that Pawar had also questioned the pricing of the aircraft in the interview.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW