
Mumbai: Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar made a startling statement on Friday, claiming that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar met underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim during his tenure as Maharashtra Chief Minister in Dubai. Ambedkar called for the release of historical records to verify if the central government had approved this alleged meeting.
Ambedkar highlighted that Pawar, who served as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister from 1988 to 1991, traveled abroad during that time. He stated that Pawar initially went to London, spent two days in California for a meeting, and then returned to London before traveling to Dubai, where the alleged meeting with Dawood Ibrahim took place.
“I am not accusing anyone, I am merely presenting some facts. During his tenure from 1988 to 1991, Sharad Pawar traveled to London, California, and then Dubai. He met Dawood Ibrahim in Dubai. Our question is, did the central government approve this meeting?” said Ambedkar.
He further urged that the details of this meeting should be made public and reiterated that as Chief Minister, Pawar would have required central government permission to travel abroad. Ambedkar also questioned whether Pawar’s trips were sanctioned by the central government and whether reports of these meetings were submitted.
Maharashtra will hold elections on November 20, with results for all 288 constituencies expected on November 23.