Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday criticised Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar) [NCP (SCP)] chief Sharad Pawar, demanding an apology to Amit Shah for fabricating a false case against him, from which the Supreme Court had acquitted Shah.
Amit Shah was externed from the state for two years in 2010 in connection with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. He was later acquitted in 2014. While addressing a press conference, Goyal stated, "Sharad Pawar was an important part of the UPA government. The Supreme Court's decision completely exposed UPA-Congress-NCP." He further said, "The case imposed against Amit Shah was entirely baseless and false. Sharad Pawar had tried his best to indict Amit Shah and the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi in a fabricated case. They were aware of their high popularity and knew they would lose in the next elections. To avoid that defeat, they attempted to attack PM Modi and Amit Shah." The Union Minister reiterated that Pawar should apologize to Amit Shah. "It is good that he (Pawar) reminded us of this case and how he was also part of UPA, conspiring against Amit Shah. Sharad Pawar should apologize to Amit Shah for this false allegation." Notably, days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Sharad Pawar the "ringleader of corruption in politics," Pawar responded, pointing out the irony of a person who had been externed from Gujarat by the Supreme Court leading such an important ministry in the country. "A few days ago, Home Minister Amit Shah attacked me and made several accusations. He said that Sharad Pawar is the commander of all corrupt people in the country. It is strange that the man who is the Home Minister of the country today is someone who misused the law of Gujarat, leading to his banishment by the Supreme Court," said Sharad Pawar. "The one who was banished is now the Home Minister of the country. So, we should think about where we are headed. The way those in power are taking the wrong path, we should be concerned; otherwise, they will undoubtedly lead the country astray. We need to pay attention to this," said Pawar. This exchange follows Amit Shah's scathing attack on Sharad Pawar in the latter's home district of Pune, where he called him the 'Sargana' (ringleader) of corrupt people in the country. (ANI)
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