Athawale, BJP ally, wants Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik to resign

In the aftermath of Maharashtra NCP Minister Nawab Malik's detention by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, Union minister Ramdas Athawale suggested on Wednesday that he should resign. The Republican Party of India (Athawale) head told reporters that when a minister who deserves to be fired is not removed from his position, Maharashtra's tradition is sullied.

 

"When he (Malik) is in custody, he should give his resignation and present any evidence he has in court. The Maha Vikas Aghadi's assertion that Malik will not resign is completely incorrect. Sharad Pawar, the NCP's president, knows everything and should ask Malik to leave "According to Athawale, whose party is a BJP supporter.

 

Athawale stated that his party supports the BJP's demand that Malik is removed from Maharashtra's government. The Enforcement Directorate detained senior NCP leader Malik on February 23 in a money-laundering investigation linked to the activities of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides. He is currently detained by the authorities.

 

Malik's resignation has been demanded by the BJP. The MVA leaders, on the other hand, have dismissed the demand, claiming that Malik has been unfairly targeted by the BJP's suspected misuse of federal agencies. Malik has also called his detention "illegal" and asked the Bombay High Court to overturn it, arguing that it infringed on his fundamental right to life and liberty. Meanwhile,  Athawale expressed confidence that the BJP will reclaim power in five of the four states that just had Assembly elections. On Thursday, votes will be counted in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @RamdasAthawale