Pune: The NCP on Friday criticized rival NCP (SP) after Sharad Pawar-led party's newly elected MP Nilesh Lanke visited the house of known criminal Gajanan Marne.
The Ahmednagar MP claimed that the meeting was "accidental" and that he was not aware of Marne's history.
A video on social media showed Marne honoring Lanke, who has been named in several criminal cases.
NCP leader Amol Mitkari criticized Lanka's visit to Marne's house and questioned the "silence" of the NCP (SP) on the issue.
A few months ago, NCP president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar had courted controversy after he visited Marne's house.Ajit Pawar had said that his son should have avoided meeting a person with a criminal record.
“When Parth Pawar met Marne, Ajit Pawar expressed disappointment and said the meeting should have been avoided. But today, Nilesh Lanke is meeting Marne with great respect and accepting his congratulations,” Mitkari said.
Mitkari also wondered whether the NCP (SP) took the help of criminals to win the Ahmednagar and Baramati Lok Sabha seats. He said, “It should be investigated whether NCP (SP) got Marne’s support in the elections.,
While Lanke emerged as a 'giant killer' by defeating outgoing BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil, in Baramati, Supriya Sule registered her fourth consecutive victory by defeating Ajit Pawar's wife and his sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar.
Lanke later told reporters that he had gone to the Kothrud area to meet the family of one of his colleagues who had died recently.
“As we were leaving, a few people, including this person (Marne), waved at us and requested that we come for tea. Since I am active in social work, I decided to do so. I went to his house , We had tea and after that he greeted me.I was unaware of his background, after returning to Ahmednagar I came to know about his history.
Lanke said the meeting was "accidental".
Earlier, NCP (SP) leader Vidya Chavan had told a Marathi news channel that she would talk to Lanke to know what prompted her to visit Marne's house. He said, “What is wrong is wrong. Be it Lanke or anyone else, no one is supporting it."
The Ahmednagar MP claimed that the meeting was "accidental" and that he was not aware of Marne's history.
A video on social media showed Marne honoring Lanke, who has been named in several criminal cases.
NCP leader Amol Mitkari criticized Lanka's visit to Marne's house and questioned the "silence" of the NCP (SP) on the issue.
A few months ago, NCP president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar had courted controversy after he visited Marne's house.Ajit Pawar had said that his son should have avoided meeting a person with a criminal record.
“When Parth Pawar met Marne, Ajit Pawar expressed disappointment and said the meeting should have been avoided. But today, Nilesh Lanke is meeting Marne with great respect and accepting his congratulations,” Mitkari said.
Mitkari also wondered whether the NCP (SP) took the help of criminals to win the Ahmednagar and Baramati Lok Sabha seats. He said, “It should be investigated whether NCP (SP) got Marne’s support in the elections.,
While Lanke emerged as a 'giant killer' by defeating outgoing BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil, in Baramati, Supriya Sule registered her fourth consecutive victory by defeating Ajit Pawar's wife and his sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar.
Lanke later told reporters that he had gone to the Kothrud area to meet the family of one of his colleagues who had died recently.
“As we were leaving, a few people, including this person (Marne), waved at us and requested that we come for tea. Since I am active in social work, I decided to do so. I went to his house , We had tea and after that he greeted me.I was unaware of his background, after returning to Ahmednagar I came to know about his history.
Lanke said the meeting was "accidental".
Earlier, NCP (SP) leader Vidya Chavan had told a Marathi news channel that she would talk to Lanke to know what prompted her to visit Marne's house. He said, “What is wrong is wrong. Be it Lanke or anyone else, no one is supporting it."
