Thread by @ArunSFan

Key points from Ajit Pawar & other NCP leaders’s press conference on Shikhar Bank Scam Allegation on Pawar & 70 other directors:

1. Primary allegation presented in assembly was ‘irregularities’ of 1088 cr. There was no use of the word ‘Scam’ or by no means ‘Money laundering’ +

2. The PIL has mention of ‘sensational’ 25,000 crore scam, when the bank only had total deposits of 12,500 crores. First of all it is not possible and even if it would happened, how did the bank survive? +

+ 3. The Director body consisted of rural reps, workers of NCP, Cong, Sena & even BJP. Bank was catering cooperative sector mainly cotton & sugar industry, which are affected by weather & draughts, it’s beyond doubt bank had to go out of line to save these industries +

+ However these out of line actions to save the industries are now branded as irregularities, which is still acceptable but calling it a scam is a stretch. +

+ 4. IN FACT CURRENT DAY BJP GOVT HAS WENT OUT OF LINE TO FINANCIALLY HELP FOUR COOPERATIVE INDUSTRIES LED MOSTLY BY BJP LEADERS, DESPITE THE #NPA ON THESE UNITS, THAT TWO OUT OF STATE BUDGET. How is it different from what Shikhar bank directors did? +

5. Both state & centre have often helped industries which are in difficulties, these helps include soft loans, low interest loans, packages, tax/loan waivers etc

6. Interestingly fact: What we loans were lent to the cooperative sector, was on guarantee of state Govt and ALL THE LOANS ARE FULLY REPAID. In fact then state Govt, in case of due loans asked the bank to make sure the industry liquidates its assets to repay the loans. +

7. The bank has shown 285 crores of Net profit in the current year. What’s the basis for 25k crore scam? +

8. Irregularities were already under enquiry, the director body was yet to respond,but right around the election season there was sudden FIR being filed and Mr Sharad Pawar listed along with the director, when Senior Pawar was not the director or even the member of the Bank. Why?

9. The director body of the bank also has 17 BJP leaders. But Media is painting “Ajit Pawar & 25k crore” for electoral purpose?

10. Bank loaned amount to the Cooperative units, on record, only allegation one can make by all means is “Irregularities in allocation of loans” from where did the terms “Money Laundering” & “Scam” come from? What’s the basis.