New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday questioned a central probe agency’s rationale in arresting his ally Nawab Malik last month and asked whether Opposition BJP in the state was reporting to this agency.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is run by the Union government, arrested Nawab Malik of the Nationalist Congress Party – a coalition partner of Thackeray’s Shiv Sena – for alleged money-laundering and land dealings with fugitive Dawood Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parkar.
Thackeray said in assembly on Friday: “If Nawab Malik had a connection with Dawood Ibrahim for years, then what was the agency doing for so long? I think the Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis must have been recruited by the ED since he gave all related documents to the agency.”
News agency ANI quoted Thackeray as saying: “Where is Dawood? Does anyone know where he is? You (BJP) fought the last elections in the name of Ram Mandir. Now, will you ask for votes in the name of Dawood? Did Obama ask for votes in the name of Laden? If you have the guts, then kill Dawood.”
Thackeray also ruled out any possibility of Malik resigning. “You ask for his resignation. Tell me first, why did you support Mehbooba Mufti who sympathised with Afzal Guru and Burhan Wani?” he said.
Thackeray has been very vocal recently about what he says is the BJP’s “selective” use of government machinery to target Opposition leaders.
Three days ago, the ED froze property worth Rs 6.45 crore of his brother-in-law Sridhar Patankar.
ED claimed Patankar’s company illegally held money that belonged to a company the agency was investigating for money-laundering.
“Don’t harass our or anyone else’s family members. We never bothered your family members… If you want to put us in jail to come to power, put me in jail,” a defiant Thackeray said Friday.
Thackeray added, “The way you have attacked my family and (want to) put me in jail… What is the use of exposing these things? The court sees proof and decides. Put me in jail… I am not Krishna but can you say you are not Kans?”
Earlier this month, the Income Tax department had raided people close to Thackeray’s son and minister Aaditya, and colleague Anil Parab.
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