Exclusive: Former MP Tariq Anwar on Why He Left the NCP

Anwar said that he did not have a word with Pawar regarding the issue before he resigned.

Tariq Anwar Resigns from NCP.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar on Friday, 28 September, resigned from the party and as Member of Parliament in protest against party chief Sharad Pawar's alleged “defence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal.

Speaking exclusively to Quint Hindi, Anwar said that he did not agree with Pawar’s statement in which he had said that the intentions of PM Modi in the matter are not questionable.

“The statement indicated that it was in favour of PM Modi. He said that PM Modi’s intentions can’t be questioned. But the entire nation is questioning his intentions. We want a probe in the matter by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. I personally did not like his comments,” said Anwar.

Pawar’s Daughter Refutes Anwar’s Claims

Soon after his departure from NCP, Surpirya Sule, a Lok Sabha MP and daughter of Sharad Pawar, refuted Anwar’s statement on party’s ‘clean chit’ to Modi on Rafale deal and said that he (Pawar) is being misquoted.

Speaking to ANI, Sule said that she is sad about him leaving the party, however, is surprised that the decision was taken without any clarification from the party.

“He (Pawar) is being quoted that he has given a clean chit to PM Modi is not true. Those who are saying so have either not heard or seen his interview or they are twisting it intentionally.”

Surpirya Sule

Sule also added that people had missed three key things that Pawar had mentioned during his address on Modi.

“Pawar said three things which people chose to ignore. One, there should be a clarification about price escalation of jets. Two, he demanded joint parliamentary committee on Rafale. And, three, he talked about BJP’s double standards on Bofors while avoiding issue on Rafale.

Surpirya Sule

NCP leader Praful Patel too said that Sharad Pawar has not given a “clean chit to anybody” in Rafale deal.

Speaking to ANI, Patel said, “It is sad to note that after working with us for so many years, he (Anwar) decided to quit without even informing us. It is very surprising because he has based his decision on an interview by Pawar to a news channel,” Patel said.

Anwar further said that he did not have a word with Pawar regarding the issue before he resigned.

When asked if he was joining the Congress, he said, “I haven’t decided anything yet. I will do whatever is in favour of my voters.”

(With inputs from ANI)