Those in power using ED to attract people into their fold: Sharad Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that those in power are using agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED) for coercing opposition leaders to join their fold. He was addressing a gathering at a book launch event here on Saturday.

"Those having power in hand are trying to attract people towards them. As I spoke with few of them, ED is being used, just like what happened in Kolhapur (Hasan Mushrif IT raid), they were asked to join their party but they refused and later this happened," said Pawar.

He was referring to the Income Tax Department raids at the residence and factory premises of senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Hasan Mushrif's residence on July 25. Mushrif is an MLA from Kolhapur's Kagal Assembly seat.

"We have seen all these processes earlier as well and we know how to build our party again. Youngsters are coming forward and the situation is being made wherein we can give them an opportunity. We live as a family in our party so if some members have taken a different stand then it is fine," he said.

On the other hand, local leaders and workers of the NCP unit performed a "havan" in Badalpur in Thane on Friday to dissuade leaders from ditching the party. On Friday itself, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chitra Kishor Wagh resigned as President of Nationalist Mahila Congress Maharashtra Pradesh.