Sharad Pawar’s swipe at PM Modi: He alleged corruption, now welcomes

NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy CM of Maharashtra. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

The NCP chief then warned of “appropriate action” against those he had “personally chosen” last month for official posts in the NCP, such as working president Praful Patel and general secretary Sunil Tatkare, but who chose to side with Ajit Pawar. “They did not take steps in the interest of the party… they have not properly discharged their responsibilities. The party leadership has lost confidence in them,” he said.

Asked whether his party has split and family divided, Pawar said, “I don’t think the party or the family has split. I will never say the family has split. This issue relates to people. If there are some deficiencies or something is lacking, a discussion is always held. We will expand our party. Several people are contacting me but I don’t know how many are actually with me.” He, however, said, he has had no discussion with his nephew Ajit Pawar about Sunday’s development.

“Whatever has happened is not new to me…It might be new to some people. From tomorrow itself, I will start touring Maharashtra and start rebuilding the party…I am not worried about what has happened,” Pawar said.

Pawar also struck a lighter note when asked who the credible face of the NCP was now. “Sharad Pawar,” he said, raising his right hand with a laugh.

The NCP chief, however, indicated that he had been involved in addressing issues within the party, which has been facing undercurrents of dissent, saying that he had earlier decided to hold a meeting of prominent party leaders on July 6. “We were going to discuss some issues related to the organisation. Before that, some party members took a different line. They declared that they were the real NCP. In the next two-three days, it will become clear what stance some party members, especially MLAs, adopt,” he said.

Pawar also suggested that Ajit Pawar and the leaders who have sided with him may not have the full support of everyone who is believed to have switched sides. “Some of those who were present at the swearing in ceremony had contacted me. They told me that they were invited for the ceremony and their signatures were taken. They clarified that their stand is different…I am not going to say anything about it now. Whatever they are saying, they should place it before the people. And only then will I agree that they have taken a different stand,” he said.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar addressed a press conference after he was sworn in as the Maharashtra Deputy CM. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Pawar, earlier, started the press conference by referring to what he said was Modi’s role in the latest development. “Two days ago, the Prime Minister made a statement. That statement was against the NCP and the Congress. At that time, he mentioned two things. He said NCP was involved in corruption. While stating this, he also made mention of the state cooperative bank. He also made reference to the complaint regarding irrigation… I am happy that he has given oath to some members of the NCP. It means there was no truth in the allegations that he made. He has freed all of them from the allegations that he made. And for this, I want to thank the Prime Minister,” he said.

Pawar read out the names of those who took oath and had Enforcement Directorate cases against them. Among those who, he said, had “ED problem” included Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, Dilip Walse-Patil, Nawab Malik who is under arrest, and Ajit Pawar. “The Prime Minister has made allegations… he spoke about taking action. We will have to see what relief they get now. And the understanding they have reached will then come before the people,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi and the BJP never missed an opportunity to attack the Sharad Pawar-led party. Addressing a BJP meeting last week, Modi had targeted the Opposition leaders who had gathered in Patna listing out corruption charges against almost each one of them. Regarding the NCP, he said there are allegations of scams of nearly Rs 70,000 crore, including the Maharashtra Cooperative Bank scam, Maharashtra irrigation scam and illegal mining scam.

In October 2014, ahead of Maharashtra Assembly elections, he had called NCP a Naturally Corrupt Party. “NCP is naturally corrupt. Since the time the party was born nothing has changed, their leaders have remained the same. Do you know what their clock (party symbol) means? The clock shows 10 minutes past 10 which means in 10 years they have increased their corrupt activities 10 times,” he had said.

Stating that he has received calls of support from top Opposition leaders, Pawar said, “Several of them told me that we are with you. Before coming here, I got a call from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Mamata Banerjee. There are people who are pushing to provide an alternative.”

On his next step, he said, “From tomorrow, I will be touring different parts of the state and the country… I will take the blessings of Y B Chavan (former Maharashtra CM) and will hold a public meeting in Karad… I am not worried about whatever has happened. I am looking forward to touring the country and the state and scaling up contact with the masses.”

Responding to another question on whether Ajit Pawar was staking claim over the NCP, Pawar said, “Whether Ajit Pawar stakes claim over the party or let him do whatever, people have faith in me. They will make a decision on this front.”

According to Pawar, he came to know about Ajit Pawar’s resignation as Leader of Opposition from the media. “If he has resigned, he must have submitted his resignation to the Assembly speaker. We have no clue about it. If somebody takes our party’s name and makes some claim, we will not quarrel with them. This stand does not fit into NCP’s policy…We will go before the people and they will take a decision in this regard,” he said.

Asked about Ajit Pawar’s contention earlier in the day that if the NCP can tie up the Shiv Sena, why not with the BJP, Sharad Pawar said, “His stand is not compatible with the NCP’s principles.”