Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on January 12 in Shirdi, claiming that the BJP’s victory in Maharashtra has “buried the politics of betrayal started by Sharad Pawar in 1978 twenty feet under the ground,” has provoked a strong reaction from NCP chief Sharad Pawar. In a sharp retort, Pawar advised Amit Shah to uphold the dignity of his position.
Pawar, addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, took a jab at Shah by recalling past controversies. “This country has witnessed many great Home Ministers, but none of them were ever exiled from their state,” he remarked, alluding to Shah’s two-year banishment from Gujarat in 2010 in connection with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case. Shah was acquitted of all charges in 2014.
INDIA Alliance and Its Purpose
Pawar clarified that the INDIA alliance was formed exclusively for the Lok Sabha elections, dismissing speculations of discontent within the bloc. He stated, “Discussions within the alliance have never included state or local elections. The focus is solely on the Lok Sabha elections.”
This statement comes in the wake of Jammu and Kashmir leader Omar Abdullah’s recent remark suggesting that the INDIA alliance has lost its relevance after the Lok Sabha elections and should be dissolved. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut supported Abdullah’s view, blaming Congress and declaring that the Shiv Sena would contest Maharashtra’s local body elections independently.
On Praising the RSS
Responding to criticism over his recent praise for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Pawar clarified his stance, stating, “I do not support their ideology but admire their hard work.” Earlier, on January 9, Pawar had urged NCP(SP) workers to learn from the RSS’s organizational dedication, crediting it for the BJP’s impressive performance in Maharashtra.
Pawar’s Political Acumen Recognized by Fadnavis
In an interesting twist, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently praised Sharad Pawar, calling him the “Chanakya of politics.” Fadnavis noted that Pawar might have realized that the “fake narrative” propagated by the Maha Vikas Aghadi during the Lok Sabha elections had failed during the assembly elections.
