Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo, Sharad Pawar, has offered a composed response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent comments concerning his tenure as the Agriculture Minister. In his statement, Pawar emphasized the significance of the Prime Minister’s post and called for statements to be made with due consideration for its constitutional stature.
Pawar remarked, “Prime Minister’s post is an important post. A PM should give a statement keeping his constitutional stature in mind. I don’t know why he targeted me. But I think whatever he said is because of the fact that he was not briefed rightly. Whatever statement PM had made on me, I will respond to that keeping the importance and dignity of PM post.”
He also pointed out that he served as the Agriculture Minister during the Congress-led UPA government’s tenure at the Centre from 2004 to 2014.
In a veiled allusion to Sharad Pawar, who held the Agriculture Minister position during the UPA government, PM Modi had mentioned that the BJP-led government was actively working to empower farmers, while insinuating that some individuals in Maharashtra were engaged in political activities under the guise of representing farmers.
Pawar raised the possibility that the Prime Minister’s comments may have arisen due to a lack of accurate information, suggesting, “He (PM) was there to seek Darshan of Sai Baba in Shirdi, what was the need to take Darshan of Sharad Pawar there. If you see the nationwide picture, there are a lot of states where BJP is not in power or either their government has come after some sabotage in other parties. And wherever there is a BJP government, they are on weak foot. This weakness and fear of losing power may have forced him (PM) to make such statements.”
Moreover, the NCP supremo elaborated on the challenging situations he encountered during his decade-long tenure as the Agriculture Minister under the Congress government. He highlighted the critical decisions he had to make, including signing a document for the import of food grains for the Public Distribution System, which, if delayed, could have halted PDS distribution. He also emphasized the significant role he played in increasing the minimum support price (MSP) for various crops.
Discussing the upcoming state assembly elections in various states, Pawar observed that the political landscape appears unfavorable for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He emphasized that while this assessment pertains to assembly polls, it may not necessarily apply to Lok Sabha elections.
Additionally, Sharad Pawar accused the central government of displaying confusion regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, noting a shift in India’s policy stance. He expressed his surprise at this inconsistency, stating, “But this government is completely confused on this issue.”
In response to PM Modi’s comments on Sharad Pawar, Sanjay Raut, a leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), launched a scathing attack, questioning the need for the PM’s remarks and highlighting Pawar’s significant contributions in the field of agriculture. Raut also commented on the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar’s presence during the PM’s speech and the intent behind the PM’s visit to Maharashtra.
The situation continues to unfold as political figures engage in a series of statements and responses, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of Indian politics.
Sources By Agencies