Maharashtra govt trying to appease a community, says Fadnavis as he demands Nawab Malik's resignation

Maharashtra Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that the state government is attempting to appease a specific community. Fadnavis also demanded Nawab Malik's resignation.

Maharashtra Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis has said the state government's support for minister Nawab Malik - who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case - is unfortunate and reiterated that Malik should resign.

"For the first time in the country's history, a minister has remained in office despite being arrested for dealing with people accused of bombings. The state government is supporting him. His transactions have been found with people associated with Dawood Ibrahim. He is being supported by a government whose chief minister is Shiv Sena's President," Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis further said, "When allegations were made against Sanjay Rathod, he was asked to resign as a minister. However, Malik has been granted this privilege in order to appease a specific community. But how can we dismiss terror funding so casually?

"There are numerous other issues that need to be addressed in the assembly, but the government must also cooperate. We will protest if they refuse to discuss," he added.

Malik was arrested by the ED in a money-laundering case related to a land deal with Sardar Shahwali Khan, convicted for life over the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, and Mohammad Salim Patel, who was the driver of Dawood’s sister Haseena Parkar.

Malik is alleged to have bought 2.80 acres of land at LBS Marg in Kurla for Rs 30 lakh when the market rate was Rs 2,053 per square feet. He allegedly paid Rs 15 lakh to Khan and Rs 5 lakh to Patel.

Devendra Fadnavis slammed the state government for failing to listen to people's concerns.