NCP president Sharad Pawar has questioned the Modi government for not conveying India’s displeasure to the US for secretary of state Antony Blinken’s allegations about human rights violations in India.

“The remark made in the presence of leaders of both countries was improper. They should have expressed disapproval. They had the opportunity, but did not do it,” Pawar told reporters in Mumbai on Wednesday. NCP colleague Majeed Memon, who flanked Pawar, said that Blinken’s statement should have been rebutted as it was made at a joint news conference after the 2+2 meet. “The comments were made at the news briefing when both defence minister Rajnath Singh and foreign minister S Jaishankar were present. The two honourable ministers should have negated the statement. At least they could have said that reports of violations were exaggerated,” Memon said.

Pawar slammed MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s demand for removal of loudspeakers from mosques. He alleged Thackeray was following the script that BJP had given him. On his ultimatum to remove loudspeakers, Pawar said that the state would take steps to prevent any attempt to disturb peace. On Thackeray’s allegation that ED targeted only Ajit Pawar and not Sharad Pawar or his daughter because he had a good equation with Modi, he said: “Who decides about the raids? I or the central agency? If something happens to Ajit Pawar, it has happened to me.”