Patel is being questioned about his purported links with Vadodara-based Sterling Biotech pharmaceutical company promoters, the Sandesara brothers, and alleged dealings of his family members with them
Three days after questioning senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel a team of ED once again arrived at his residence to question him in connection with the Gujarat-based Sterling Biotech
The team members were seen carrying files and wearing masks and gloves as a precautionary measure in view of the coronavirus pandemic
The ED had summoned Patel twice for questioning in the case but the Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat cited the Covid-19 pandemic guidelines that advise senior citizens to stay indoors
Calling the Union budget "insipid" and lacking in stimulus for growth, the Congress on Saturday said the government's annual financial statement comprises piecemeal measures, repackaged schemes, jugglery of tax slabs and has no real solutions to solve the economic crisis. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said that at a time when India is in the midst of an economic downturn, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget speech focuses more on praising the prime minister rather than helping the common citizen. "Longest Budget speech is also the most lacklustre budget ever. After Acche Din, New India, it now appears that the government has also abandoned the target of USD 5 trillion economy," Patel said in a series of tweets. This budget confirms not only the bankruptcy of the economy but also a bankruptcy of government's ideas, he claimed. "Piecemeal measures, repackaged schemes, jugglery of tax slabs & no real solutions to solve the present economic crisis," Patel said referring .
He also dismissed charges that there was delay on part of the Congress to form government in the state with the Shiv Sena and NCP.
Pawar and Thackeray were also part of the three-party deliberations at Nehru Centre
The joint press conference was held hours after President's Rule in the state
Gujarat is considered to be the BJP's Hindutva lab where other parties are wary of projecting Muslim issues
A reversal for Ahmad Patel in Gujarat would have been an enormous loss of face for Sonia
The Congress has been out of power in Gujarat for more than two decades
This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, said Ahmed Patel
Patel had contended that the poll panel's decision could not be challenged by an election petition
Patel had challenged the High Court order which had dismissed his plea questioning the maintainability of Rajput's election petition
In his plea, Patel has said that the election petition filed by his rival BJP nominee Rajput in the high court was not maintainable and needed to be dismissed
Patel said that it was unbecoming of a head of the govt to stoop this low and the BJP had no right to speak of terrorism
The ATS claimed that suspects were planning to attack a Jewish synagogue in Khadia area of Ahmedabad
Gujarat is expected to go to the polls in December this year
Patel called on the party to target winning 125 seats out of 182 in the Assembly elections
Election Commission declared two votes cast by rebel Congress legislators invalid