ED Is The Supporting Party Of The BJP, Says NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar said, during the UPA government under Manmohan Singh's leadership, the ED was not manipulated for political purposes, but now it appears to be utilized to intimidate opposition figures.

New Delhi: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government , was misusing agencies like the Enforcement Directorate to create fear among opposition leaders and called the ED supporting party of the BJP. Speaking to reporters in Pune ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Pawar asserted that steps were being taken to influence elections with the help of  agencies like the ED, saying that candidates from opposition parties are being threatened against contesting.

 

Sharad Pawar cited statistics regarding the Enforcement Directorate's activities spanning from 2005 to 2023, revealing that out of 5,806 cases registered, only 25 have been disposed of. This alarming disposal rate stands at a mere 0.42 percent, alongside a conviction rate of just 0.40 percent. Moreover, Pawar highlighted a significant increase in the ED's budget, which has surged from Rs 300 crore in 2022 to Rs 404 crore, reported PTI.

 

"Between 2005 and 2023, two governments were in power, including the UPA of which we were also a part of. During the UPA regime, the ED investigated 26 leaders, of whom five were from the Congress and three from the BJP", Sharad Pawar said.

ED's Action Was Not Politically Motivated In UPA Regime, Says Sharad Pawar

"It shows that during the UPA regime ED's action was not politically motivated, but after 2014, not a single BJP leader has been questioned", Pawar added. The veteran leader went on saying, "These figures raise a doubt if the ED's actions under the BJP government were politically motivated. It indicates that the ED has become a supporting party of the BJP", he said.       

 

"BJP leaders know about the ED's actions in advance...looks like the orders come from the BJP", Pawar claimed.

 

He also said that, "during the UPA government under Manmohan Singh's leadership, the ED was not manipulated for political purposes, but now it appears to be utilized to intimidate opposition figures", Sharad Pawar remarked.

 

Pawar's allegations come after the attachment of assets belonging to a sugar mill owned by the company of NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who is the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, as per PTI.

 

Rohit Pawar, the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on two occasions following searches conducted at the premises of his company, including Baramati Agro Limited and Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited, among others, in January.

 

Sharad Pawar addressed the ED's actions against his grandnephew's firm, asserting that the sale of the sugar mill was proposed by the state government and bank, with Rohit's company securing the mill due to submitting the highest bid. He highlighted discrepancies in the treatment of purchases made below Rs 25 crore compared to the Rs 54 crore bid by Rohit's firm, suggesting a targeted approach.

 

Today, An Atmosphere Of Terror Being Created By Using ED 

Pawar criticised the apparent effort to deter individuals engaged in public service and create an environment of fear, alleging attempts to influence elections through agencies like the ED. "Today, an atmosphere of terror?? is being created by using the tool of ED constantly", he remarked.

"When the process of finalising candidates for the election is on, directly or indirectly, threats are being given to the candidates that they should not contest elections from the opposition side, which is worrisome", he said.  

Pawar highlighted statistics indicating a pattern of investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) between 2005 and 2023, revealing that out of 147 leaders investigated, a significant majority, 85 percent, belonged to the opposition. He further detailed the breakdown, asserting that the opposition parties affected include Congress, TMC, NCP, Shiv Sena, DMK, RJD, SP, AAP, National Conference, PDP, AIADMK, MNS, and TRS.

 

Since the BJP assumed power in 2014, Pawar asserted that the ED has initiated action against 121 leaders from various opposition parties, including a Chief Minister, a former Chief Minister, and 14 former ministers, MPs, and MLAs, without any investigations conducted against BJP members.

He juxtaposed the two governments, saying, "during the UPA regime between 2004 and 2014, the ED took action against 26 individuals, comprising five from the Congress, three from the BJP, seven from the TMC, and four from the DMK."

Pawar argued that these numbers indicate the ED's actions during the Manmohan Singh-led UPA regime were not politically motivated, unlike the present scenario, which he alleges is driven by political vendetta.

 

On BJP MP Anant Kumar Hedge's statement that his party needs two-thirds in both houses of Parliament to amend the Constitution, Sharad Pawar said the leader has not made such remarks for the first time and stated this earlier also.The remarks reflect upon what is there in the mind of the BJP leadership and it is worrisome for the country. If someone is saying this publicly, then such things cannot be neglected, he said.

Hegde, known for his hardline views, had said the BJP needs a two-third majority in both houses of Parliament to amend the Constitution and set right the distortions and unnecessary additions made to it by the Congress.

The BJP on Sunday moved to defuse the row sparked by Hegde's support for amending the Constitution as it dubbed his remarks personal opinion and sought a clarification from him.