'First attack corrupt, then…': Kapil Sibal takes dig at BJP after Ajit Pawar joins Maharashtra govt

Congress MP Kapil Sibal took a swipe at the BJP over NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight others inducted into the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government. Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader said, "first attack the corrupt and then embrace" them.

In a tweet, Sibal said, "First attack the corrupt, then embrace the corrupt. First guarantee their investigation, then get a warranty for their support. Investigation in suspension. Henceforth ED, CBI: No tension. Sounds familiar? Mother of democracy at work!"

Sibal had taken a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday over the Ajit Pawar revolt, saying probably this is "the mother of democracy" that Modi talked about in his address to the United States Congress.

Maharashtra politics 

In a sudden turn of events, Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister by Governor Ramesh Bais at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan in Mumbai on Sunday.

Eight other NCP leaders, some of whom are close aides of Sharad Pawar, took oath as ministers in the Shinde-Fadnavis government.

The move by Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs joining the Shinde-Fadnavis government came amid efforts by opposition parties to forge unity to take on the BJP in the next year's Lok Sabha polls. Sharad Pawar, a former Maharashtra Chief Minister, has been a key leader in opposition unity efforts.

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar to address public meeting in Karad today

Hitting out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Eknath Shinde said that some people were talking about "googly" but everyone saw who was clean bowled and "it's a hit wicket".

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar will visit Karad in Maharashtra's Satara district  The NCP chief along with former Maharashtra Chief Minister YB Chavan are then expected to address party supporters in Karad.

"We will go to Satara where we will pay obeisance at the tomb of Late Deputy Prime Minister Yashwantrao Chavan. Hundreds of thousands of workers are ready to go to Satara with Sharad Pawar," Pune City NCP President Prashant Jagatap told ANI.

-With agency inputs