The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that Modi has lost confidence due to a widespread desire for political change. Pawar also criticized Praful Patel of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP for placing a ‘jiretop’, the traditional headgear of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, on PM Modi’s head, calling it a display of “lachari” (slavish attitude).
Speaking to the media in Nashik, Pawar shared his observations from his campaign visits, stating, “I visited many places to campaign during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. People’s mindset is towards (political) change now and Modi has lost his confidence due to it. There is a favourable condition for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the state.”
Pawar criticized PM Modi’s roadshow in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area, noting that it caused inconvenience and was inappropriate for a national leader to focus on caste and religion. “Modi held the roadshow in a Gujarati-dominated area. When you are leading the nation, thinking about caste and religion is not appropriate. Conducting a roadshow in a city like Mumbai is not the right thing to do. People had to wait for hours. They suffered inconvenience due to it,” Pawar stated.
Mumbai Metro rail services were suspended between Jagruti Nagar and Ghatkopar stations for security reasons during the roadshow. Additionally, police closed some adjoining roads and diverted traffic for the event.
Addressing the ‘jiretop’ controversy, Pawar remarked, “Jiretop and Maharashtra have a history. There is a limit to ‘lachari’. But it is good they said that they will take care in future.” Patel’s act of placing the headgear on Modi’s head before the latter filed his nomination in Varanasi drew criticism from the opposition.
Responding to PM Modi’s label of Shiv Sena (UBT) as a “fake Shiv Sena,” Pawar said, “What is ‘nakli’ (fake) Shiv Sena? The real Shiv Sainiks are with Uddhav Thackeray.”
When questioned about Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s absence from election-related events of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, including PM Modi’s roadshow in Mumbai, Pawar clarified, “Ajit Pawar is really ill.”