Rafale Deal: Another NCP member quits after Sharad Pawar defends Modi

Saima Siddiqui
Published on: 29 Sep 2018 5:08 AM GMT
Rafale Deal: Another NCP member quits after Sharad Pawar defends Modi
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MUMBAI: Following the footsteps of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) General Secretary Tariq Anwar another NCP member Munaf Hakim quit the primary membership of the party.

Former chairman of the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission Mr Hakim, informed media on Friday that he was following another party colleague, Lok Sabha MP Tariq Anwar, by resigning and added that more NCP workers might follow suit.

ALSO READ: Tariq Anwar quits NCP, LS after Sharad Pawar praises Modi

Hakim also said it was "difficult" to defend party's image after Sharad Pawar "supported" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale fighter jet alleged scam.

Mr Pawar, in an interview to a television channel on Wednesday, said that people "do not have doubts" over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intentions (in Rafale deal).

"I don't think people have doubts about Modi's intentions personally," Mr Pawar had told the news channel.

"Sharad Pawar has never supported fundamental forces. How can he say Narendra Modi is not guilty in the Rafale case in the minds of the public? A JPC probe has not yet been set up," Mr Hakim said.

"Tariq Anwar is one of the founder members of the party. He was not consulted while making an important stand of the party public (on Rafale). In such a case, it is difficult to defend the party's image after Pawar saheb supported Modi in the Rafale case," He added.

Mr Anwar on Friday said he had resigned from the party and Parliament (Katihar Lok Sabha seat) following party chief Sharad Pawar's praise of Modi on the Rafale deal.

Earlier, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik on Thursday said that media reports over Mr Pawar's statement were "confusing and misleading".

"He (Pawar) has not made any statement defending Modi nor has he given any clean chit (in the Rafale deal matter)," the NCP leader had said.

Saima Siddiqui

Saima Siddiqui

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