Bitcoin Scam: Sharad Pawar slams BJP for involving his daughter
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Baramati: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar has strongly criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for leveling cryptocurrency fraud allegations against his daughter and party MP, Supriya Sule. Pawar described the allegations as an attempt by the BJP to smear his family, calling it a "classic example of how low the BJP can stoop."
Pawar responded to claims made by former IPS officer Ravindranath Patil, who accused Sule and Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole of selling Bitcoin and using the funds in the state Assembly elections. The BJP backed Patil’s accusations, releasing audio clips and WhatsApp messages, but both Sule and Patole have denied the charges.
"The officer who made these allegations was once jailed, and his claims are not worth our attention," said Sharad Pawar, dismissing the validity of the charges.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is involved in a political feud with his nephew Yugendra Pawar, called for an impartial investigation into the cryptocurrency fraud to uncover the truth. Ajit Pawar also expressed his belief that the voices in the audio clips did indeed belong to Sule and Patole.
Supriya Sule rejected the charges and threatened to file a defamation suit against the BJP. She also fired back at her cousin Ajit Pawar, stating, "Ajit Pawar can say anything."
During his visit to Baramati to cast his vote, Sharad Pawar urged Maharashtra voters to exercise their right to vote, emphasizing the importance of a high voter turnout in the state. He pointed out that while northeastern states reported 70-75% voter participation in the Lok Sabha elections, Maharashtra’s turnout stood at 67%. Pawar called on citizens to vote for the candidates and parties they believed were right for the state’s future.
In response to Ajit Pawar's prediction of a 175-seat win for the MahaYuti alliance, Sharad Pawar sarcastically remarked, "If Ajit Pawar believes in numbers, he should have predicted 280 seats instead."
Pawar also addressed concerns over the recent attack on former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, stating that while the election process in Maharashtra is generally peaceful, the attack in Nagpur was deeply troubling.
With IANS inputs