Nagpur, Sep 10 (PTI) Days after the Bombay High Court sought a response from Maharashtra Police on a bail application which mentioned NCP MP Parth Pawar not being made an accused in the Mundhwa land deal case, NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar on Thursday said Parth would now learn “up close” what the BJP’s politics is.
Rohit, Parth’s second cousin who sided with the Sharad Pawar-led faction when Ajit Pawar split the Nationalist Congress Party, also advised Parth to hold a press conference and made the facts clear.
On Monday, the Bombay High Court, hearing an anticipatory bail application of two accused in the Mundhwa land deal case, sought a reply from the state police. The application pointed out that Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar, who is the son of an influential person (Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar), was not made an accused while his business partner Digvijay Patil was made an accused in the case.
Asked by reporters here about the development, Rohit Pawar said he could not comment on the matter before the High Court, but Parth Pawar should hold a press conference.
“He should tell people what the facts are and what the situation is… Earlier, when (Parth’s late father) Ajit Pawar was around, he would go before the media and explain the facts. So I think Parth Pawar will now have to hold a press conference,” he said.
Rohit also noted that a reply in the case before the HC is to be filed by the state police. “Which department do police officers belong to? They belong to the Home Department. Now, Parth Pawar will come to know what is the BJP’s politics,” he said.
It is Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who heads the Home department, Rohit Pawar added.
The NCP (SP) MLA further said that earlier Ajit Pawar headed the finance ministry in the coalition government led by the BJP, but after his death Fadnavis took it over (instead of handing it over to another NCP leader).
“In the negotiations that would happen now in this case, I think finance will remain permanently with the BJP. In the coming days, Ajit Pawar’s party will learn up close what the BJP politics is all about,” he said.
Amadea Enterprises LLP, a company co-owned by Parth Pawar, is accused of illegally buying a prime piece of land in Pune’s Mundhwa area at a price much lower than its market price without paying stamp duty. The deal was subsequently cancelled.
Rohit also said that when Ajit Pawar faced corruption allegations in the past, the BJP gained an advantage from his silence. The MLA was apparently referring to the pre-2023 period before the NCP-BJP alliance when the saffron party used to target Ajit over alleged corruption.
“So I want to tell Parth only this, now you should come forward and, through the media, tell people what the real situation is. Once the truth reaches the people, there won’t be any advantage for the BJP or any other rival party. It’s very important to present your stand yourself,” he said.
Talking about his Vidarbha tour, the MLA said there was 40 to 45 percent rainfall deficit in some parts of eastern Maharashtra and 60 percent deficit in Marathwada. Rainfall was down 30 to 40 percent in parts of western Maharashtra, he added.
Kharif crops are under serious threat and farmers would face huge problems in the Rabi season too, he said.
NCP (SP) leaders met the Nagpur divisional commissioner and demanded declaration of a drought and Rs 50,000 per hectare to farmers and Rs 25,000 to agricultural labourers, Rohit Pawar said.
Talking about the loan waiver scheme, he said the government has released Rs 10,000 crore out of the promised Rs 35,000 crore, but 43 lakh farmers have been left out.
“Our demand is that the complete loan waiver announced by the government should be implemented within the next 15 to 20 days,” he said. PTI CLS SP KRK
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