Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to complain against the Enforcement Directorate action against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s conduct in the state.

Immediately after his 20-minute meeting with the Prime Minister, the NCP Chief called a press conference. “Sanjay Raut is a Rajya Sabha member and also editor of a newspaper. Yesterday, his apartment in Mumbai and a half acre plot was attached by the Enforcement Directorate. On what basis was the action taken against Sanjay Raut… just because he is making some statements and criticising the government. This is injustice,” he told reporters .

The NCP President revealed that he had also brought up the role being played by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. “For the last one and a half years, 12 MLC’s seats in the state have been vacant. The state government has submitted the list of new members two years back but not filled even today. I have brought it to the attention of the Prime Minister that it is the right of the state tor recommend and it is the Governor’s duty to appoint but the latter has not found time in the last two years to give clearance to the proposal.”said Pawar.

On being asked about reports of Congress being upset that the party is not getting its due in the MVA government, the NCP Chief said, “ This is a three party government and it cannot run if one party is disturbed and the people who run the government are smart enough to know that one party should not be made unhappy. I have not heard about Congress people being upset.. in my one on one conversation (with Congress leaders) I have never heard this.”said Pawar. Scotching speculations about the stability of the MVA government, the NCP Chief said that not only would the government complete its five year term but the three parties would also be elected in the 2024 elections.

The NCP Chief said that nothing much should be read in his visit with the Prime Minister. “We have taken a clear cut line that the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena will fight the elections against the BJP and we will continue to do it.”

Pawar reiterated that he is not keen on heading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). “I am not keen on it, some of my party members want it.. We don’t want to disturb the present set up (existing leadership of Sonia Gandhi). When asked about who would lead the opposition, Pawar said that with the highest seats which in this case was the Congress would lead.

The NCP Chief said that he has been coordinating in getting the non BJP allies together to decide the future course of action at the instance of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Pawar said that all the parties in the country would have to come together as early as possible to tackle the issue of communalism.

Referring to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray’s remarks against loudspeakers in mosques to be brought down, Pawar said that the move was backed by the BJP. “The BJP which is in power in the centre and in states is supporting the move by Raj, it clearly shows that their step is not in the interests of the country.