Ahead of session, Pawar, Modi hold hour-long meet

New Delhi, July 17

Days before the monsoon session of Parliament, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nearly an hour to discuss issues related to the banking amendment Act and cooperative sector.

The NCP said the meeting was already scheduled and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies were aware of it. A veteran leader widely recognised for his political acumen, Pawar is the main architect of the MVA government in Maharashtra and is seen as a lynchpin for any future opposition alliance against the BJP. Though Pawar said he met the PM to discuss larger national issues, it is learnt that he flagged matters related to the new Ministry of Cooperation created by the PM and headed by Home Minister Amit Shah.

In a letter submitted to the PM, Pawar also flagged certain “constitutional inconsistencies” in the Banking Regulation Act that was recently amended. Pawar said, “I wish to point out certain inconsistencies and the resulting legal inefficacies of normative provisions of the Act that are in conflict most specifically with the 97th Constitutional Amendment, State Co-operative Societies Act and with The Co-operative Principles.” He said, “While erring board members and management must be acted upon and the depositor’s interests protected, at the same time it should be ensured that while doing so the cooperative principles laid down in the Constitution are not sacrificed.” — TNS