New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis Thursday accused the Maharashtra government of shielding minorities affairs minister Nawab Malik for his alleged role in a money laundering case linked to underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim.
While speaking to the media in Mumbai, leader of the opposition party in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis demanded resignation of Nawab Malik and called the state government "Dawood Samarpit".
"Why does the government not want to take his resignation? This is a 'Dawood samarpit', 'Dawood sharan' government. This government is coming together to save people who keep relations with Dawood. That's why we've started protests and we demand that his resignation be taken immediately," said Fadnavis during his interaction with the media, reported news agency ANI.
"For the first time in Maharashtra, a minister (Nawab Malik) is behind bars but his resignation hasn't been taken. This is unexpected. He hasn't been jailed for a small matter, he's accused of dealing with family of Dawood Ibrahim," the BJP leader further said.
BJP also staged protest in the premises of the Vidhan Sabha and demanded the resignation of the NCP leader.
Meanwhile, a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Thursday extended Malik's custody to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till March 7 in money laundering case.
The ED for a long time was keeping a watch on Nawab Malik's alleged links with aides of Dawood Ibrahim. And after establishing money trail links between Malik and people connected to the underworld, ED arrested the NCP leader.
In February, raids were conducted at residence of Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar and several other associates of the gangster in Mumbai.