ED raids on Deshmukh show Centre’s frustration, says Pawar

Misuse of Central agencies is BJP’s new SoP, say NCP leaders.

Hitting out at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former-Home Minister Anil Deshmukh’s Mumbai and Nagpur residences, party chief Sharad Pawar on Friday said the sole objective of the investigations was to harass Mr. Deshmukh. “It is out of despair and frustration that the ED was set upon Mr. Deshmukh… This misuse of central agencies is a new pattern of the BJP-ruled Centre. Even prior to this, central agencies had their eye on businesses owned by Mr. Deshmukh’s son. At that time, too, they failed to unearth anything. Anil Deshmukh is not the first to face such action. So, we are not unduly worried by all this,” said Mr. Pawar, speaking in Pune. When asked about the Maharashtra BJP passing a resolution to seek a CBI inquiry against NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena minister Anil Parab, Mr. Pawar said this was “novel”.