Sharad Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief linked up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s residence. During the meeting which lasted for about 50 minutes, he raised concerns about the newly-formed Ministry of Cooperation which is headed by Amit Shah, and farmers’ issues.
Pawar also wrote him a letter, flagging concerns on the Ministry of Cooperation. He said the cooperative banking sector is a state subject. Citing Supreme Court judgments, he said that any attempt of interference by the centre will be a breach of the Constitution.
NCP leader and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik said, “This meeting was due for many days and a time was found. A leader from Maharashtra meeting the Prime Minister has nothing to do with anything else… We expect that the PM will consider all requests of the banking sector.”
Earlier this week, the Rajya Sabha member had commented on the formation of the new Ministry of Cooperation a day before the mega reshuffle of PM Modi’s cabinet. He said laws for the cooperation sector had been framed in the Maharashtra assembly and that the centre has no right to interfere with legislation drafted by the state.
The meeting also comes two days ahead of the monsoon session of parliament and amid reports of strains in the Shiv Sena-led alliance in Maharashtra, of which Pawar’s party is a constituent.
