Mumbai: The leaders of Mahavikas Aghadi have fully stood in support of NCP minister Nawab Malik. Senior Aghadi ministers demonstrated near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near Mantralaya to protest against Malik’s arrest. The MLAs and leaders present in this demonstration raised slogans against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the BJP government at the Center.
These leaders described the arrest of Nawab Malik as purely politically motivated. The ED had arrested Malik on Wednesday on charges of money laundering and buying properties from underworld people. Malik has been sent to ED custody till March 3.
All prominent leaders of NCP were present
Among the ministers who protested are Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP State President and Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil, Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, besides cabinet ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Jitendra Ahwad, Rajesh Tope, MP Supriya Sule. Many NCP MLAs and leaders including women state president Rupali Chakankar, Nawab Malik’s daughter Nilofar Malik and brother Captain Malik were involved.
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Ashok Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat were present on behalf of Congress.
In the demonstration organized in support of Nawab Malik, PWD Minister Ashok Chavan, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, besides cabinet ministers Vijay Wadettiwar, Nitin Raut, Sunil Kedar, Aslam Sheikh, K. Several leaders including C. Padvi, Mumbai Congress President Bhai Jagtap, former MP Hussain Dalwai, former minister Naseem Khan and spokesperson Sachin Sawant participated.
Subhash Desai led from Shiv Sena
On behalf of Shiv Sena, Industries Minister Subhash Desai, MLA Sunil Raut, Manisha Kayande, Deputy Leader Sachin Ahir, Yamini Jadhav, Yogesh Kadam and former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar demonstrated in support of Nawab Malik. State Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray and Shiv Sena’s chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut had gone to campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on Thursday.
The allegations against Nawab Malik are baseless. It is clear from his arrest that the Modi government at the Center is misusing the power. We will answer all the allegations against Malik related to terror funding in the court. Efforts to oust the Maha Vikas Aghadi government from power have not been successful so far. The action against Malik is part of this.
-Jayant Patil, NCP state president
BJP has no moral right to demand resignation of Nawab Malik. BJP should agitate for the resignation of the union minister whose son crushed the farmers under the car. This is an attempt to destabilize the Maha Vikas Aghadi government by misusing the central investigative agencies. All the parties involved in the Aghadi will face this challenge diligently.
– Balasaheb Thorat, Revenue Minister
The arrest of Nawab Malik shows that very low level politics has started in the country. Arresting a minister like this is fatal to democracy. This action has been taken only on suspicion and it is a wrong move.
Ashok Chavan, Public Works Minister
Nawab gets relief from sessions court
State Minority Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik has got relief from the special PMLA Court of Sessions Court. The court has accepted all three of their demands. Under which now his lawyers will be present with Nawab Malik during the interrogation of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), while he will also get the facility of home food and medicine.