Sharad Pawar has no right to speak about morality: Fadnavis

Almost 24 hours after after the supreme court verdict on political crisis in state that helped save Eknath Shinde lead government in Maharashtra, deputy chief went to his home town Nagpur where he had series of scheduled meetings related to Vidarbha districts.

During media interaction Fadnavis responding to a question on Pawar’s comment questioned BJP’s morality said, “ It would be better if Pawar tries not to teach BJP lessons on morality. If he tries then one would have to revisit the past. Then a lot of things will come out in public domain on how Pawar raised the revolt to topple the then Congress chief minister Vasantdada Patil government…”

For those unversed with the past developments it must be mentioned that Pawar broke away from the elected Congress government led by then CM Vasantdada Patil in 1978. Pawar along with the rebels formed the Indian National Congress (Socialist). He then forged an alliance with the Janata Party and the Peasants’ and Workers’ Party of India. The three parties coalition was called Progressive Democratic Front or Purogami Lokshahi Aghadi. However, the coalition government was short-lived and dismissed in February 1980. Eventually, Pawar returned to the Congress. It was again in 1999 following differences on foreign nationality of Sonia Gandhi that he raised protest and was expelled from Congress. Pawar formed a separate party on June 10, 1999 called NCP.

Fadnavis said, “ We have always maintained the decorum. We don’t speak about senior leaders. We respect our opponents. But if someone tries
to attack us on fundamentals we will be forced to remind them of their own conduct.”

On Thursday Pawar commenting on the apex court verdict made terse remarks against the ruling BJP. Pawar said, “The BJP and morality are contradictory to each other. What more can I comment?” The former union minister further said, “ There is a trend which BJP is following. If it cannot win on its own merit, it indulged in breaking smaller parties to form the government.”

The supreme court decision Pawar believed would help MVA to take the battle in public. And convince people about BJP’s unethical politics.

Stung by Pawar’s remark, Fadnavis said, “ Does Pawar have any link with morality? If he decides to teach BJP morality it will be difficult. For that one will have to go into history. How he brought down the then Congress CM Vasantdada Patil led government.”

Since Pawar is a senior leader I don’t wish to say anything more. But at the same time I want to state that beyond a point we want to have to worry about his statements.

On Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray demanding resignation of CM Shinde on moral grounds post supreme court verdict, Fadnavis said,“The less said the better. In 2019, Thackeray put Modi’s photos everywhere to get his candidates elected. They were in alliance with BJP till elections. But post polls they joined hands with rival Congress, NCP for CM chair.”

The supreme court verdict rightly has referred the issue of disqualification of 16 members and political parties’ decision to speaker of state legislative assembly of Maharashtra. The speakerRahul Narwekar is a lawyer. There is no reason to doubt his integrity or question the speaker as it would be unfair.

Fadnavis who also holds home portfolio said, “ The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has given the decision to withdraw suspension of former police commissioner Parambir Singh. It was the CAT which ordered closure of his investigation.” Accordingly, CATs decisions are being enforced by the state government.