NCP Chief Sharad Pawar denies any link with Gadkari

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar denies any link with GadkariNCP Chief Sharad Pawar on Friday denied any link with BJP Chief Nitin Gadkari, but admitted that he had purchased shares in Ideal Road Builders (IRB) that had a stake in Gadkari's Purti Power and Sugar Ltd.

When asked about his participation in Gadkari's companies, Pawar said, "On IRB shares, if I or my wife has purchased shares of one particular company and sold it the next year, I don't understand how I am answerable for that."

Around a week ago, when India Against Corruption (IAC) activist Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the Gadkari was involved in Maharashtra's irrigation scam, Pawar had defended the BJP chief.

At that time, Pawar described Gadkari as a responsible man who worked responsibly. He added that Gadkari's sugar mills benefited farmers a lot as it provided high quality seeds to farmers and employment to many locals.

On IRB shares, he tried to defend his stance saying anyone could buy shares in any company. According to Pawar's investment details filed with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in 2011, he had held Rs 1, 61,550 worth of shares in IRB.

Kerjiwal recently accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of protecting each others' corrupt people, and befooling the common man.