New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) The Congress Friday played down the controversy surrounding Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar over his family’s stake in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Pune team, saying that all questions on the issue should be addressed to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader.
‘Sharad Pawar is a valuable ally. This is a question which you have to put to him in all fairness,’ Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said in his reply to queries from mediapersons about the Congress stance on the allegations about Pawar family’s part in the bidding process.
Singhvi said a general enquiry into IPL finances was already being conducted by the government.
‘This is merely a report which has appeared in a newspaper. You have to ask the person concerned. We have nothing further to add or comment on this,’ he said.
On Bharatiya Janata Party’s demand for Pawar’s resignation, Singhvi said the Congress was not surprised by the opposition party’s stance. ‘Do you expect opposition to demand anything else?’ he said.
A media report Friday said Pawar and his family members had 16 percent share in City Corporation, which was one of the bidders for Pune IPL franchise.
Pawar told reporters that Anirudh Deshpande, managing director of City Corporation, had made the bid for the team in his individual capacity.
He said none of his family members were part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams nor did they take part in the bidding process.
The Pune IPL team franchise was won by the Sahara group.
