Mumbai: Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana founder Raju Shetti on Friday came out in support of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar after the ED attached assets of Jarandeshwar sugar factory. He claimed that the ED’s move is politically motivated.
In the past, Shetti has staged agitation against NCP chief Sharad Pawar on the issues of fair and remunerative price payment to farmers. He alleged that the ED is being used for political blackmailing and said the CBI and the ED are under the Centre’s control.
Shetti said, “Action should be taken against all 43 factories. The sale of these factories must be investigated as they belong to the farmers. However, it is wrong to investigate factories for political gain and then induct the concerned in the BJP.”
Shetti led a scathing attack against the estranged ally BJP, saying that the ED is working politically. “I have made many complaints that leaders of all parties have looted sugar factories. A list of 43 factories has also been given to the ED. But no action was taken then. But yesterday’s action is at the behest of someone,” he claimed.
Shetti said he had filed a petition in Mumbai High Court five years ago against 89 people responsible for this. Unfortunately, the petition has yet to be listed for hearing. “The court only said that FIR should be lodged, and then come to the court after the police action. However, the police did not initiate any action. I knocked on the doors of ED, the income tax department and SEBI and raised a money laundering case as to how the money was mobilised to buy those factories,” he added.
