Opposition leaders lashed out at the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government on Sunday as nine senior NCP leaders joined the Maharashtra government. The newly sworn-in lawmakers however insisted that they had not joined under pressure, adding that the courts had not taken any coercive steps because there was ‘nothing concrete against us’.
“They (opposition) are saying that we are here because we have cases against us and we are under pressure. Most of us either no longer have cases against us or the investigations are underway. The Court has not taken any coercive steps against us because there is nothing concrete against us. So saying that we joined because we were under pressure is not correct,” asserted Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujabal.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar meanwhile jibed that he was ‘thankful’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as charges against the lawmakers had seemingly been cleared.
“Two days ago the PM had said about NCP… He had said two things in his statement that NCP is a finished party. He mentioned irrigation complaint and allegations of corruption. I am happy that some of my colleagues have taken oath. From this (joining the NDA government) it is clear that all the charges have been cleared. I am thankful to him,” Pawar said.
A slew of Opposition leaders from parties aligned with the NCP have lambasted the decision since news of the ‘defection’ broke.
“Principles be damned, BJP should be the last party in the country talking about ideological alliances. They are just political opportunists wanting power at any cost. With the latest development in Maharashtra, those MLAs who were corrupt & were jailed are now being sworn in as ministers!” tweeted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi.
“BJP was about to send them to jail. He is taking the oath of office of minister,” read a post by fellow party leader Sanjay Raut, roughly translated from Marathi.
Meanwhile the Aam Aadmi Party lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, nothing that Pawar’s appointment had come mere days after he gave a guarantee of action against corruption.
Narendra Modi is the biggest patron of corruption in the country. Today all TV channels will condemn Modiji,” tweeted Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in Hindi.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Updated: 02 Jul 2023, 05:45 PM IST