Anil Parab, Uddhav Thackeray’s fidus Achates In Crisis, Gets ED Call

Many political experts and supporters of the Shiv Sena think that Parab’s continuous fight against the BJP, in defense of his leader, has led to the Enforcement Directorate notice he has recently received.

Shiv Sena minister and a close aide of chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Anil Parab, received a notice from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday in connection with the money laundering case registered against former state minister Anil Deshmukh. The ED has asked Parab to depose before the investigating officer of the case at the agency’s office in south Mumbai on Tuesday.

This is not the first instance when the central agency has opened a probe against a Shiv Sena leader. Earlier, ED had summoned Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in connection with the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) scam worth Rs 5600 crore.

However, the ED sending a notice to Anil Parab, an advocate by profession and the minister of Transport and Parliamentary Affairs in the state government, gains more significance in the wake of the recent political developments in the western state. After a bitter split in late 2019 with its long time ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena formed a coalition government under the banner of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with its traditional foes- the Congress and the NCP. This major development led to Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, thereby fulfilling his promise to his late father and the founder of the right wing party- Bal Thackeray. Uddhav Thackeray had assured senior Thackeray of making a Shiv Sainik (Shiv Sena worker) the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the top position he claimed the BJP declined to offer to the Sena despite an earlier agreement on 50:50 sharing.

Since the Sena’s breakup with the BJP, the former allies have been locked in frequent confrontations. In majority of these instances, Anil Parab has not only stood rock-solid behind Thackeray but also led the party’s attack from the front. Be it the fiasco with TV anchor Arnab Goswami, actress Kangana Ranaut’s controversial comments, or the recent scuffle with Union Minister Narayan Rane, Parab has led the charge fearlessly, without mincing his words. In Parab, Uddhav Thackeray has got a comrade who isn’t afraid of playing it aggressively, to send a clear and straight message to the Modi-Shah duo: “We won’t go down without a fight.”

Many political experts and supporters of the Shiv Sena think that Parab’s continuous fight against the BJP, in defense of his leader, has led to the Enforcement Directorate notice he has recently received.

Arnab Goswami Episode

During the exorbitantly farcical debates on the passing of the Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Republic editor Arnab Goswami made controversial comments about Chief Minister Thackeray. Goswami’s nasty references about the Sena supremo obviously did not go down well with party members and supporters. Shiv Sena could not digest the fact that the anchor made such uncivil remarks while sitting in a studio in Mumbai, the right wing party’s stronghold.

Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik moved a breach of privilege motion against Goswami in Maharashtra assembly. Anil Parab, being a parliamentary affairs minister, supported the motion. Parab made an impassioned speech targeting Goswami, and also referring to him as “Supari Patrakar”, a journalist who takes money from one side to malign other.

“He himself thinks he is a judge, when he thinks himself as a judge and the way he uses words against CM Uddhav Thackeray ji and Sharad Pawar ji as ye Uddhav Thackeray, Ye Sharad Pawar, action must be taken against him. This House has the power to make a law to protect journalists. So we can also take action against such journalists who use derogatory words against the minister. If any such language is used against the Prime Minister then action can be taken. Then why not take action against those who use them against Chief Minister?” Parab questioned.

Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Panga’ with Sena

Actress Kangana Ranaut, who’s been banned by Twitter owing to her misleading and communal tweets in favor of the BJP’s policies, likened the Maharashtra capital Mumbai to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Ranaut had made several other videos targeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after the BMC took action against an alleged illegal construction of her office.

Anil Parab, reacting to Kangana’s comments, said she should shift from Mumbai if she thinks the city is like Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and is “bad”.

“If Mumbai is this bad, then she should live where she finds it right. We had said this earlier too and we continue to hold this view,” Parab told reporters.

The minister said the Sena had no “personal issues” with Ranaut.

“At the same time, the party cannot just listen if someone criticises or says bad things about the megapolis,” he said.

Parab said, “Kangana Ranaut is not only the Sena’s issue, but also of those who love Mumbai and Maharashtra”.

“She has to decide what she wants to do. Maharashtra will decide what it has to do. She should shift from here, if she thinks Mumbai is like PoK,” the minister added.

Narayan Rane’s Arrest

After Union Minister Narayan Rane made “slap Uddhav” remark, several FIRs were registered against him by Shiv Sena workers in different cities. As Rane stood in the morning in front of reporters, he pronounced that he was “not a normal person to get arrested like this”. However, he would have not imagined that his words will come back to haunt him. By the evening, Rane was arrested, becoming the first union minister to be arrested in 20 years. However, the man who ensured Rane’s arrest was Ratnagiri’s guardian minister- Anil Parab.

A viral video showed Parab purportedly asking the Ratnagiri police to arrest Union minister Narayan Rane without waiting for an arrest warrant.

The guardian minister of Ratnagiri was at a press conference on Tuesday, during which he broke off to have two phone conversations. After receiving the first call, he made another call — apparently to a police officer.

“Hello, what are you people doing? But you need to do it. Have you detained him or not?… What order are they asking for? The high court and sessions court have rejected his bail (plea)… then use the police force,” Parab was heard speaking on the phone. The minister was audible as he was seated before open microphones.

The ED notice came days after the aforementioned video went viral.

Reacting to the summon, Shiv Sena MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut said the ED notice to Mr Parab was “expected” and the party would fight it legally.

“Well done. As soon as the Jan Ashirwad Yatra concluded, Anil Parab has been served ED notice as expected. The central government has begun its work. The epicentre of the earthquake was Ratnagiri. (Mr) Parab is the district guardian minister. Understand the chronology. Will fight legal battle legally. Jai Maharashtra,” Raut tweeted.

शाब्बास!
जन आशीर्वाद जत्रेची सांगता होताच अपेक्षे प्रमाणे अनिल परब यांना ई.डी.ची नोटीस बजावण्यात आली . वरचे सरकार कामाला लागले. भुकंपाचा केंद्रबिंदू रत्नागिरीत होता. परब हे रत्नागिरीचे पालक मंत्री आहेत.
chronology कृपया समज लिजीये.
कायदेशीर लढाई कायदयानेच लढू..जय महाराष्ट्र

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) August 29, 2021