News Analysis India

Tag: Sharad Pawar

  • Maharashtra govt not taking concrete steps to help rain-hit farmers, says Pawar

    By PTI

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra has failed to take concrete measures to help cultivators who have incurred heavy losses due to rains in parts of the state.

    The former Union agriculture minister interacted with farmers in his home district of Pune to understand their grievances and losses faced by them due to heavy rainfall.

    Talking to farmers in Purandar tehsil, Pawar rued the state government was not ready to take concrete measures for cultivators who incurred heavy losses due to downpour.

    Pune has received unusually high amount of rains in October. During the interaction, the NCP leader empathized with farmers and told them he understood their pains and problems, and assured to make efforts to get relief.

    “Farmers have incurred losses because of heavy rains. The government should take some concrete steps to steer them out of this situation. However, the present government is not ready to take these kinds of measures. The Centre has also been apprised of the situation on ground, but no concrete decision has been taken,” Pawar said.

    He further said the state government recently announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank, but sought to know how many agriculturists have availed of credit from the lender.

    The state government has announced a loan waiver of Rs 964 crore from Bhuvikas Bank among other measures taken for development of the agriculture sector.

    “Two to three days ago, the state government announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank.

    Tell me in the last 10 years, has anyone here (referring to farmers present at interaction) taken a loan from Bhuvikas Bank? Do you even know whether Bhuvikas Bank exists?” Pawar said.

    “The bank used to be there, but its loans had been defaulted for the last 25 to 30 years. Nobody goes for recovery of loans. So, after realising that loans cannot be recovered, they have waived them,” he said.

    The NCP chief further said if help needs to be given to farmers who are in crisis, the rules must be kept aside and people in power should prioritise cultivators who have lost their crops due to heavy showers.

    “While the groundwater levels have increased because of heavy rainfall and it will remain so for another two years, the state government should pay for the current losses. We will take efforts for the same and if needed, we will agitate,” Pawar said.

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra has failed to take concrete measures to help cultivators who have incurred heavy losses due to rains in parts of the state.

    The former Union agriculture minister interacted with farmers in his home district of Pune to understand their grievances and losses faced by them due to heavy rainfall.

    Talking to farmers in Purandar tehsil, Pawar rued the state government was not ready to take concrete measures for cultivators who incurred heavy losses due to downpour.

    Pune has received unusually high amount of rains in October. During the interaction, the NCP leader empathized with farmers and told them he understood their pains and problems, and assured to make efforts to get relief.

    “Farmers have incurred losses because of heavy rains. The government should take some concrete steps to steer them out of this situation. However, the present government is not ready to take these kinds of measures. The Centre has also been apprised of the situation on ground, but no concrete decision has been taken,” Pawar said.

    He further said the state government recently announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank, but sought to know how many agriculturists have availed of credit from the lender.

    The state government has announced a loan waiver of Rs 964 crore from Bhuvikas Bank among other measures taken for development of the agriculture sector.

    “Two to three days ago, the state government announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank.

    Tell me in the last 10 years, has anyone here (referring to farmers present at interaction) taken a loan from Bhuvikas Bank? Do you even know whether Bhuvikas Bank exists?” Pawar said.

    “The bank used to be there, but its loans had been defaulted for the last 25 to 30 years. Nobody goes for recovery of loans. So, after realising that loans cannot be recovered, they have waived them,” he said.

    The NCP chief further said if help needs to be given to farmers who are in crisis, the rules must be kept aside and people in power should prioritise cultivators who have lost their crops due to heavy showers.

    “While the groundwater levels have increased because of heavy rainfall and it will remain so for another two years, the state government should pay for the current losses. We will take efforts for the same and if needed, we will agitate,” Pawar said.

  • New, united anti-BJP front in the making for 2024 polls?

    By PTI

    FATEHABAD: In a major step towards forging a united anti-BJP front, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and other prominent opposition leaders on Sunday called for a new alliance that includes the Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, stressing that a bipolar contest will ensure the BJP’s defeat.

    “If all non-BJP parties unite, which must include our friends from Congress, then we can get rid of those working to destroy the country,” Kumar said at a mega rally organised by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) here to mark former deputy prime minister Devi Lal’s birth anniversary.

    The JD(U) leader, who snapped ties with the BJP last month, said there is “no question of a Third Front” and there should be one “main front” to trounce the BJP in the 2024 elections.

    The same sentiment was echoed by other leaders including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant.

    Even INLD president OP Chautala said that “they will talk to all parties including Congress to form a united front of opposition parties.”

    Chautala and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Singh Badal, both with a long history of fighting the Congress, were on the stage with other senior leaders like Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

    Though not in as many words, Badal underlined the need for opposition parties to come together.

    He asserted that the “real NDA is here on this stage not somewhere else. The founding members SAD, Shiv Sena, and JD(U) are present here. We removed the BJP from the NDA.”

    The leaders attacked the BJP, accusing it of trying to create “Hindu-Muslim disturbances” to benefit politically and making false claims and promises.

    Pawar spoke at length on the plight of farmers who protested against the three farm laws and said the government has still not fulfilled their demand for minimum support price (MSP).

    He also talked about the government not taking back cases filed against the protesting farmers.

    “The real solution to problems of farmers and unemployment can only be by bringing a change and everyone must strive for a change of the government at the Centre in 2024. All opposition parties should come together,” he said.

    Speaking on similar lines, Yechury said it is time to change the manager who is ”mismanaging the country and creating chaos”. “We all should come on one platform including the Congress,” the CPM leader said.

    Though no one from Congress attended the rally, Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence in the national capital after the public meeting.

    Kumar later told reporters that all parties are on the same page in the fight against the BJP and talks on a concrete plan of action will be held after the election of the Congress president.

    However, regional bigwigs like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who have shown an inclination towards forming a non-Congress alliance to take on the BJP in the past, stayed away from the rally, besides Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

    With one leader after another pitching for a larger unity among opposition parties, JD(U) leader K C Tyagi said in his speech that the rally marked the beginning of the coming together of non-BJP parties in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

    In his address, Kumar suggested that an opposition front cannot be envisaged without the Congress and the Left parties.

    He urged leaders on the dais, including some with a strong anti-Congress history, to work for a larger unity and said this “main front of opposition” will ensure that the saffron party loses badly in the 2024 general elections.

    There is no real Hindu-Muslim conflict in society, Nitish Kumar said in his address, adding that some mischief-makers are present everywhere. A large number of Muslims chose to remain in India after the Partition in 1947, he added.

    RJD leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the BJP does not want real issues such as price rise and unemployment to be discussed and instead harps on topics like “Musalmaan, Pakistan, mandir and masjid”.

    He said the JD(U), SAD and the Shiv Sena left the BJP-led NDA to save the Constitution and democracy. Where is the NDA now, he asked.

    He accused the BJP of making false claims and promises and dubbed it as “Badka Jhuta Party” (big lying party).

    The RJD leader called for fighting the BJP, saying those who will be scared of it will be finished while those who take it on will win.

    Yadav said the BJP wants everyone except those aligned to it and the RSS to be finished and lauded farmers of Haryana and Punjab, saying they taught the party a lesson, a reference to their protests against the now-repealed farm laws.

    ALSO READ: Bihar CM Nitish pledges special status to backward states if voted to power

    The BJP government is selling out all public firms and wanted to sell off farmers’ land as well, he alleged and also attacked it for the ‘Agniveer’ scheme, a short-term recruitment programme in the armed forces.

    While leaving the rally venue, Kumar told reporters he was not a contender for the prime minister’s post.

    No real work is happening under the BJP government at the Centre, he alleged, accusing it of imposing its control over different institutions, including the media, to peddle a “one-sided” narrative.

    Seven parties are together in Bihar and the BJP is all alone, the Janata Dal (United) leader said, adding that the BJP can’t win in the elections.

    The rally was organised by INLD to mark the 109th anniversary of its founder Devi Lal.

    The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) is fighting for survival in Haryana following a split after its patriarch Om Prakash Chautala’s elder son Ajay Chautala formed Jannayak Janata Party, a BJP ally. The JJP had managed to secure most of the traditional INLD votes in the last assembly polls.

    FATEHABAD: In a major step towards forging a united anti-BJP front, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and other prominent opposition leaders on Sunday called for a new alliance that includes the Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, stressing that a bipolar contest will ensure the BJP’s defeat.

    “If all non-BJP parties unite, which must include our friends from Congress, then we can get rid of those working to destroy the country,” Kumar said at a mega rally organised by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) here to mark former deputy prime minister Devi Lal’s birth anniversary.

    The JD(U) leader, who snapped ties with the BJP last month, said there is “no question of a Third Front” and there should be one “main front” to trounce the BJP in the 2024 elections.

    The same sentiment was echoed by other leaders including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant.

    Even INLD president OP Chautala said that “they will talk to all parties including Congress to form a united front of opposition parties.”

    Chautala and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Singh Badal, both with a long history of fighting the Congress, were on the stage with other senior leaders like Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

    Though not in as many words, Badal underlined the need for opposition parties to come together.

    He asserted that the “real NDA is here on this stage not somewhere else. The founding members SAD, Shiv Sena, and JD(U) are present here. We removed the BJP from the NDA.”

    The leaders attacked the BJP, accusing it of trying to create “Hindu-Muslim disturbances” to benefit politically and making false claims and promises.

    Pawar spoke at length on the plight of farmers who protested against the three farm laws and said the government has still not fulfilled their demand for minimum support price (MSP).

    He also talked about the government not taking back cases filed against the protesting farmers.

    “The real solution to problems of farmers and unemployment can only be by bringing a change and everyone must strive for a change of the government at the Centre in 2024. All opposition parties should come together,” he said.

    Speaking on similar lines, Yechury said it is time to change the manager who is ”mismanaging the country and creating chaos”. “We all should come on one platform including the Congress,” the CPM leader said.

    Though no one from Congress attended the rally, Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence in the national capital after the public meeting.

    Kumar later told reporters that all parties are on the same page in the fight against the BJP and talks on a concrete plan of action will be held after the election of the Congress president.

    However, regional bigwigs like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who have shown an inclination towards forming a non-Congress alliance to take on the BJP in the past, stayed away from the rally, besides Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

    With one leader after another pitching for a larger unity among opposition parties, JD(U) leader K C Tyagi said in his speech that the rally marked the beginning of the coming together of non-BJP parties in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

    In his address, Kumar suggested that an opposition front cannot be envisaged without the Congress and the Left parties.

    He urged leaders on the dais, including some with a strong anti-Congress history, to work for a larger unity and said this “main front of opposition” will ensure that the saffron party loses badly in the 2024 general elections.

    There is no real Hindu-Muslim conflict in society, Nitish Kumar said in his address, adding that some mischief-makers are present everywhere. A large number of Muslims chose to remain in India after the Partition in 1947, he added.

    RJD leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the BJP does not want real issues such as price rise and unemployment to be discussed and instead harps on topics like “Musalmaan, Pakistan, mandir and masjid”.

    He said the JD(U), SAD and the Shiv Sena left the BJP-led NDA to save the Constitution and democracy. Where is the NDA now, he asked.

    He accused the BJP of making false claims and promises and dubbed it as “Badka Jhuta Party” (big lying party).

    The RJD leader called for fighting the BJP, saying those who will be scared of it will be finished while those who take it on will win.

    Yadav said the BJP wants everyone except those aligned to it and the RSS to be finished and lauded farmers of Haryana and Punjab, saying they taught the party a lesson, a reference to their protests against the now-repealed farm laws.

    ALSO READ: Bihar CM Nitish pledges special status to backward states if voted to power

    The BJP government is selling out all public firms and wanted to sell off farmers’ land as well, he alleged and also attacked it for the ‘Agniveer’ scheme, a short-term recruitment programme in the armed forces.

    While leaving the rally venue, Kumar told reporters he was not a contender for the prime minister’s post.

    No real work is happening under the BJP government at the Centre, he alleged, accusing it of imposing its control over different institutions, including the media, to peddle a “one-sided” narrative.

    Seven parties are together in Bihar and the BJP is all alone, the Janata Dal (United) leader said, adding that the BJP can’t win in the elections.

    The rally was organised by INLD to mark the 109th anniversary of its founder Devi Lal.

    The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) is fighting for survival in Haryana following a split after its patriarch Om Prakash Chautala’s elder son Ajay Chautala formed Jannayak Janata Party, a BJP ally. The JJP had managed to secure most of the traditional INLD votes in the last assembly polls.

  • ‘Time for all to work towards ensuring change of govt in 2024’, says Pawar at Opposition leaders rally

    By PTI

    FATEHABAD: As several opposition leaders came together on one stage here, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the time has come for everyone to work towards ensuring a change of the government at the Centre in 2024.

    Referring to the stir against the agri laws, he said farmers committing suicide is not a solution and that the real solution would be to bring about the change in government.

    Farmers staged protests on the borders of the national capital, but the central government did not heed to their demands for a very long time, Pawar said here at a mega rally organised by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

    The rally organised by INLD was also attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Singh Badal among others.

    Pawar said farmers and youths committing suicide is not a solution, but the real solution is to bring about a change and everyone must strive for a change of the government at the Centre in 2024.

    Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief OP Chautala, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Bihar CM and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, Bihar Dy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal and CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and others during a rally in Fatehabad, Sunday . (Photo | PTI)

    ALSO READ | Pawar renews pitch for opposition unity for 2024 Lok Sabha polls

    He said the central government had promised to withdraw cases filed against farmer leaders, but it has not fulfilled it as yet.

    At the same rally, Nitish Kumar also called for uniting all non-BJP parties, including the Congress and the Left, to take on the BJP and said this “main front of opposition” will ensure that the saffron party loses badly in the 2024 general elections. Kumar also said he was not a prime ministerial candidate. 

    “There is no question of a Third Front. There should be one front including Congress, then we can defeat BJP in 2024,” he added.

    Bihar’s deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said the BJP earlier used to sing ‘menhgayi daayan maar gayi’ (price rise is killing every one), but now ‘menhgayi’ has become its ‘bhoujayi’ (sister-in-law).

    FATEHABAD: As several opposition leaders came together on one stage here, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the time has come for everyone to work towards ensuring a change of the government at the Centre in 2024.

    Referring to the stir against the agri laws, he said farmers committing suicide is not a solution and that the real solution would be to bring about the change in government.

    Farmers staged protests on the borders of the national capital, but the central government did not heed to their demands for a very long time, Pawar said here at a mega rally organised by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

    The rally organised by INLD was also attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Singh Badal among others.

    Pawar said farmers and youths committing suicide is not a solution, but the real solution is to bring about a change and everyone must strive for a change of the government at the Centre in 2024.

    Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief OP Chautala, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Bihar CM and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, Bihar Dy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal and CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and others during a rally in Fatehabad, Sunday . (Photo | PTI)

    ALSO READ | Pawar renews pitch for opposition unity for 2024 Lok Sabha polls

    He said the central government had promised to withdraw cases filed against farmer leaders, but it has not fulfilled it as yet.

    At the same rally, Nitish Kumar also called for uniting all non-BJP parties, including the Congress and the Left, to take on the BJP and said this “main front of opposition” will ensure that the saffron party loses badly in the 2024 general elections. Kumar also said he was not a prime ministerial candidate. 

    “There is no question of a Third Front. There should be one front including Congress, then we can defeat BJP in 2024,” he added.

    Bihar’s deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said the BJP earlier used to sing ‘menhgayi daayan maar gayi’ (price rise is killing every one), but now ‘menhgayi’ has become its ‘bhoujayi’ (sister-in-law).

  • ‘Mentality of north India and Parliament still not conducive for women’s quota’: Sharad Pawar

    By PTI

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the “mentality” of north India and Parliament seems not conducive yet to giving reservations to women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.

    He made the remarks at a programme organised by the Pune Doctors’ Association where he and his daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule were interviewed.

    Replying to a question on the Women’s Reservation Bill, which aims to reserve 33 per cent seats in Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for women which is yet to be passed, and whether this shows the country is still not mentally ready to accept the women leadership, Pawar said he has been speaking on this issue in Parliament since he was Congress MP in Lok Sabha.

    “The ‘mansikta’ (mentality) of Parliament, especially of North India, has not been conducive (on this issue). I can recall that when I was Lok Sabha MP in Congress, I used to talk about the issue of reservations for women in Parliament. Once after completing my speech, I turned back and saw that majority of MPs from my party got up and left. This means even for people from my party, it was not digestible,” he added.

    The former Union minister said all (parties) should keep trying to get the bill passed.

    “When I was the chief minister of Maharashtra, reservations for women in local bodies like ZP and Panchayat Samiti were introduced. It was opposed initially but later people accepted it,” he added.

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the “mentality” of north India and Parliament seems not conducive yet to giving reservations to women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.

    He made the remarks at a programme organised by the Pune Doctors’ Association where he and his daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule were interviewed.

    Replying to a question on the Women’s Reservation Bill, which aims to reserve 33 per cent seats in Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for women which is yet to be passed, and whether this shows the country is still not mentally ready to accept the women leadership, Pawar said he has been speaking on this issue in Parliament since he was Congress MP in Lok Sabha.

    “The ‘mansikta’ (mentality) of Parliament, especially of North India, has not been conducive (on this issue). I can recall that when I was Lok Sabha MP in Congress, I used to talk about the issue of reservations for women in Parliament. Once after completing my speech, I turned back and saw that majority of MPs from my party got up and left. This means even for people from my party, it was not digestible,” he added.

    The former Union minister said all (parties) should keep trying to get the bill passed.

    “When I was the chief minister of Maharashtra, reservations for women in local bodies like ZP and Panchayat Samiti were introduced. It was opposed initially but later people accepted it,” he added.

  • Ajit Pawar ditched at NCP national convention, sparks rift rumours as he leaves the event

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday skipped the chance to speak at the NCP’s national convention meeting despite being one of the top leaders in the party.

    He left midway in front of party supremo Sharad Pawar.

    Ajit Pawar left the stage just moments after party leader Jayant Patil was given the chance to speak before him which sparked rumours of a rift in the party.

    Although the Maharashtra leader later clarified that he did not speak in the meeting because it was a national-level meeting.

    NCP MP Praful Patel had announced on the stage that Ajit Pawar will speak before Sharad Pawar’s concluding remark but the former deputy Chief Minister was missing from his seat.

    It was later on announced by Patel that Pawar had excused himself to go to the washroom and will come back for the speech in front of cadres who raised slogans in support of the former Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister.

    Meanwhile, NCP MP Supriya Sule was seen convincing Ajit Pawar to return for his speech on the stage.

    When Ajit Pawar entered the meeting venue, party veteran Sharad Pawar had already started his concluding remarks after which the former didn’t get any chance to speak.

    In 2019, while Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress in Maharashtra were still discussing the alliance, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on November 23, 2019, took oath as CM with NCP leader Ajit Pawar as his deputy. The duo were sworn in at an early morning ceremony but the government lasted only 80 hours.

    Earlier on Saturday, Sharad Pawar was re-elected as the President of the National Congress Party (NCP) for the next four years.

    Sharing the information, the chief spokesperson of NCP, Mahesh Bharat Tapase said that Sharad Pawar unanimously was re-elected as the chief of the party.

    Notably, Pawar has been holding the office since 1999 when he founded the party with P.A. Sangma and Tariq Anwar after splitting from Indian National Congress.

    At present, the General Secretaries of the party are Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel.From NCP, Ajit Pawar is the current leader of the Opposition in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.

    However, for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Sharad Pawar has advocated the unity of Opposition parties. (ANI)

    NEW DELHI: Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday skipped the chance to speak at the NCP’s national convention meeting despite being one of the top leaders in the party.

    He left midway in front of party supremo Sharad Pawar.

    Ajit Pawar left the stage just moments after party leader Jayant Patil was given the chance to speak before him which sparked rumours of a rift in the party.

    Although the Maharashtra leader later clarified that he did not speak in the meeting because it was a national-level meeting.

    NCP MP Praful Patel had announced on the stage that Ajit Pawar will speak before Sharad Pawar’s concluding remark but the former deputy Chief Minister was missing from his seat.

    It was later on announced by Patel that Pawar had excused himself to go to the washroom and will come back for the speech in front of cadres who raised slogans in support of the former Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister.

    Meanwhile, NCP MP Supriya Sule was seen convincing Ajit Pawar to return for his speech on the stage.

    When Ajit Pawar entered the meeting venue, party veteran Sharad Pawar had already started his concluding remarks after which the former didn’t get any chance to speak.

    In 2019, while Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress in Maharashtra were still discussing the alliance, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on November 23, 2019, took oath as CM with NCP leader Ajit Pawar as his deputy. The duo were sworn in at an early morning ceremony but the government lasted only 80 hours.

    Earlier on Saturday, Sharad Pawar was re-elected as the President of the National Congress Party (NCP) for the next four years.

    Sharing the information, the chief spokesperson of NCP, Mahesh Bharat Tapase said that Sharad Pawar unanimously was re-elected as the chief of the party.

    Notably, Pawar has been holding the office since 1999 when he founded the party with P.A. Sangma and Tariq Anwar after splitting from Indian National Congress.

    At present, the General Secretaries of the party are Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel.From NCP, Ajit Pawar is the current leader of the Opposition in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.

    However, for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Sharad Pawar has advocated the unity of Opposition parties. (ANI)

  • Nation in anguish under BJP rule, says Pawar; NCP calls for opposition unity

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Ahead of the next round of assembly elections, the NCP on Saturday gave a clarion call for unity of anti-BJP forces and said that party chief Sharad Pawar would play an important role in this regard.

    Addressing the extended working committee of the NCP here, Pawar alleged that the Modi government was “anti-farmer” and had also “failed” to tackle the issue of unemployment. He also slammed the BJP over the release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case.

    “I am surprised that the prime minister speaks of upholding the dignity of women and two days later the BJP government in the prime minister’s home state reduced the sentence of those who committed atrocities against Bilkis Bano and her family,” Pawar said.

    The extended working committee of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also re-elected Pawar as the national president of the party.

    The veteran leader said that farmers were looking forward to getting a good price for their paddy crop, but the government has imposed a 20 per cent export duty on rice and banned the export of broken rice.

    “The nation is in deep anguish and we will have to take up these issues vigorously at every forum,” Pawar said.

    A draft political resolution moved during the meeting called for the unity of like-minded parties to fight against the BJP and its allies.

    “Sharad Pawar has played an important role in bringing together these parties and putting up a united front to counter the NDA. We must strengthen this resolve and work towards the goal of opposition unity and make sure we achieve this successfully,” the political resolution read.

    Speaking on the political resolution, senior NCP leader Praful Patel said leaders across the political spectrum seek Pawar’s counsel on issues of national importance and the veteran leader will play a key role in shaping the politics in the coming times.

    Addressing the meeting, senior NCP leader P C Chacko slammed the Congress for remaining in the old mindset and failing to recognise the changed political scenario.

    Chacko, a former Congress leader, said the Congress cannot win a single panchayat election in Uttar Pradesh and only Pawar could bring all opposition parties together.

    Assembly elections are due in BJP-ruled Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh in December, while nine other states, including Rajasthan and Karnataka, will go to polls next year.

    Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have also had talks with Pawar and the leaders have been pitching for opposition unity to take on the BJP.

    NEW DELHI: Ahead of the next round of assembly elections, the NCP on Saturday gave a clarion call for unity of anti-BJP forces and said that party chief Sharad Pawar would play an important role in this regard.

    Addressing the extended working committee of the NCP here, Pawar alleged that the Modi government was “anti-farmer” and had also “failed” to tackle the issue of unemployment. He also slammed the BJP over the release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case.

    “I am surprised that the prime minister speaks of upholding the dignity of women and two days later the BJP government in the prime minister’s home state reduced the sentence of those who committed atrocities against Bilkis Bano and her family,” Pawar said.

    The extended working committee of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also re-elected Pawar as the national president of the party.

    The veteran leader said that farmers were looking forward to getting a good price for their paddy crop, but the government has imposed a 20 per cent export duty on rice and banned the export of broken rice.

    “The nation is in deep anguish and we will have to take up these issues vigorously at every forum,” Pawar said.

    A draft political resolution moved during the meeting called for the unity of like-minded parties to fight against the BJP and its allies.

    “Sharad Pawar has played an important role in bringing together these parties and putting up a united front to counter the NDA. We must strengthen this resolve and work towards the goal of opposition unity and make sure we achieve this successfully,” the political resolution read.

    Speaking on the political resolution, senior NCP leader Praful Patel said leaders across the political spectrum seek Pawar’s counsel on issues of national importance and the veteran leader will play a key role in shaping the politics in the coming times.

    Addressing the meeting, senior NCP leader P C Chacko slammed the Congress for remaining in the old mindset and failing to recognise the changed political scenario.

    Chacko, a former Congress leader, said the Congress cannot win a single panchayat election in Uttar Pradesh and only Pawar could bring all opposition parties together.

    Assembly elections are due in BJP-ruled Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh in December, while nine other states, including Rajasthan and Karnataka, will go to polls next year.

    Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have also had talks with Pawar and the leaders have been pitching for opposition unity to take on the BJP.

  • Opposition’s show of strength: INLD’s September 25 rally aims to bring Nitish, Tejashwi, Pawar on one stage

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: To display Opposition unity, the INLD has invited Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav and Farooq Abdullah for its September 25 rally which will also be attended by Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, party leader Abhay Chautala said Tuesday.

    The INLD national general secretary said the former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik have also been invited to the rally.

    An invitation will also be sent to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chautala told PTI.

    He said, “During a meeting with Nitish Kumar ji, INLD supremo O P Chautala invited him to the September 25 rally in Fatehabad, and he agreed to attend the meeting.”

    When contacted, JD(U) leader K C Tyagi confirmed that Kumar will attend the rally along with Tejashwi Yadav.

    “To mark the birthday of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, various opposition leaders will come together on one stage and it would be an appropriate occasion to discuss various issues,” Tyagi told PTI.

    O P Chautala claimed that people are fed up with the BJP and “an atmosphere against the ruling party at the Centre is building in the country”.

    “The September 25 rally will not only showcase opposition unity but also anger against the BJP government,” he said, adding all socialist and erstwhile Janata Dal leaders should come on one stage.

    The INLD has been organising public rallies on the birthday of its founder Devi Lal and has been inviting various leaders from opposition parties, other than the Congress.

    NEW DELHI: To display Opposition unity, the INLD has invited Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav and Farooq Abdullah for its September 25 rally which will also be attended by Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, party leader Abhay Chautala said Tuesday.

    The INLD national general secretary said the former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik have also been invited to the rally.

    An invitation will also be sent to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chautala told PTI.

    He said, “During a meeting with Nitish Kumar ji, INLD supremo O P Chautala invited him to the September 25 rally in Fatehabad, and he agreed to attend the meeting.”

    When contacted, JD(U) leader K C Tyagi confirmed that Kumar will attend the rally along with Tejashwi Yadav.

    “To mark the birthday of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, various opposition leaders will come together on one stage and it would be an appropriate occasion to discuss various issues,” Tyagi told PTI.

    O P Chautala claimed that people are fed up with the BJP and “an atmosphere against the ruling party at the Centre is building in the country”.

    “The September 25 rally will not only showcase opposition unity but also anger against the BJP government,” he said, adding all socialist and erstwhile Janata Dal leaders should come on one stage.

    The INLD has been organising public rallies on the birthday of its founder Devi Lal and has been inviting various leaders from opposition parties, other than the Congress.

  • ‘Shameful’: Sharad Pawar on release of life-term convicts in Bilkis Bano case

    By PTI

    THANE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday termed “shameful” the release of the 11 life-term convicts in the Bilkis Bano case under the Gujarat government’s remission policy.

    Speaking to reporters in Thane in Maharashtra, Pawar said the release of the convicts is contrary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address wherein he had appealed to people to respect women.

    “Atrocities on women are on the rise in the country. When the courts have awarded them imprisonment till death such a decision by the Gujarat government to release the convicts in the Bilkis case was a shameful one,” he said.

    Pawar also suggested that activist Teesta Setalvad’s arrest was wrong.

    “What the Gujarat government is doing in the Teesta Setalvad case is totally wrong,” he said.

    Setalvad was arrested by the Gujarat Police in June for allegedly submitting false evidence in the 2002 Gujarat riots case.

    The 11 men sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the gang rape of Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat communal riots and the murder of seven members of her family walked out of the Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy.

    They had served more than 15 years in jail.

    The Supreme Court had directed the Gujarat government to look into the issue of remission of the sentence of one of the convicts.

    A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment.

    Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court.

    On March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano’s family was attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district in Gujarat.

    Bilkis, who was five months pregnant at that time, was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed.

    THANE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday termed “shameful” the release of the 11 life-term convicts in the Bilkis Bano case under the Gujarat government’s remission policy.

    Speaking to reporters in Thane in Maharashtra, Pawar said the release of the convicts is contrary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address wherein he had appealed to people to respect women.

    “Atrocities on women are on the rise in the country. When the courts have awarded them imprisonment till death such a decision by the Gujarat government to release the convicts in the Bilkis case was a shameful one,” he said.

    Pawar also suggested that activist Teesta Setalvad’s arrest was wrong.

    “What the Gujarat government is doing in the Teesta Setalvad case is totally wrong,” he said.

    Setalvad was arrested by the Gujarat Police in June for allegedly submitting false evidence in the 2002 Gujarat riots case.

    The 11 men sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the gang rape of Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat communal riots and the murder of seven members of her family walked out of the Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy.

    They had served more than 15 years in jail.

    The Supreme Court had directed the Gujarat government to look into the issue of remission of the sentence of one of the convicts.

    A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment.

    Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court.

    On March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano’s family was attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district in Gujarat.

    Bilkis, who was five months pregnant at that time, was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed.

  • Social media posts on Sharad Pawar: Bombay HC clubs FIRs against actor Ketaki, student Nikhil

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday clubbed all the FIRs lodged against Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale and student Nikhil Bhamre, accused of uploading defamatory posts against NCP president Sharad Pawar, at the police station where the first case was lodged against them.

    There are 22 FIRs registered against Chitale and six against Bhamre, a resident of Nashik.

    With the HC order, all the FIRs against Chitale have now been clubbed with the first FIR lodged against her at Kalwa police station in neighbouring Thane district.

    All FIRs against Bhamre would now be clubbed at Naupada police station in Thane.

    A division bench of Justices N M Jamdar and N R Borkar took note of a Supreme Court order which said when there are multiple FIRs, then the first case lodged can be considered as the main FIR and the remaining cases can be considered as witness statements in the first FIR.

    The bench also directed the Maharashtra government and all complainants in the case to file their affidavits, replying to other prayers made in the petitions filed by Chitale and Bhamre seeking compensation for wrongful arrest and for their arrest to be declared as illegal.

    “What is the state government’s stand on these prayers made in the petition? Both the government and the complainants shall file their affidavits,” the court said while posting the matter for further hearing on September 6.

    Chitale and Bhamre was arrested in May this year and released on bail in June.

    Chitale had been arrested sharing on Facebook a Marathi verse, which allegedly referred to NCP chief Sharad Pawar in a derogatory way.

    Bhamre was arrested for an alleged objectionable tweet against Pawar.

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday clubbed all the FIRs lodged against Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale and student Nikhil Bhamre, accused of uploading defamatory posts against NCP president Sharad Pawar, at the police station where the first case was lodged against them.

    There are 22 FIRs registered against Chitale and six against Bhamre, a resident of Nashik.

    With the HC order, all the FIRs against Chitale have now been clubbed with the first FIR lodged against her at Kalwa police station in neighbouring Thane district.

    All FIRs against Bhamre would now be clubbed at Naupada police station in Thane.

    A division bench of Justices N M Jamdar and N R Borkar took note of a Supreme Court order which said when there are multiple FIRs, then the first case lodged can be considered as the main FIR and the remaining cases can be considered as witness statements in the first FIR.

    The bench also directed the Maharashtra government and all complainants in the case to file their affidavits, replying to other prayers made in the petitions filed by Chitale and Bhamre seeking compensation for wrongful arrest and for their arrest to be declared as illegal.

    “What is the state government’s stand on these prayers made in the petition? Both the government and the complainants shall file their affidavits,” the court said while posting the matter for further hearing on September 6.

    Chitale and Bhamre was arrested in May this year and released on bail in June.

    Chitale had been arrested sharing on Facebook a Marathi verse, which allegedly referred to NCP chief Sharad Pawar in a derogatory way.

    Bhamre was arrested for an alleged objectionable tweet against Pawar.

  • Pawar accuses BJP of finishing off regional allies; Fadnavis hits back

    By PTI

    PUNE: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of finishing off its regional allies gradually, and supported Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to snap ties with the BJP.

    Speaking to reporters in Baramati town of Maharashtra’s Pune district, Pawar claimed the BJP was planning how to weaken the Shiv Sena and create a division in the party.

    Pawar’s party was a constituent of the previous Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government, which collapsed in June this year following a revolt by Sena MLA Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators.

    Nitish Kumar had on Tuesday pulled the plug on his party JD(U)’s alliance with the BJP and resigned, and followed it up by staking claim to form a new government in Bihar with support of the opposition Grand Alliance.

    Notably, BJP national president J P Nadda recently said in the times to come only an ideology-driven party like the BJP will survive, while others ruled by families will perish.

    Pawar on Wednesday claimed that “the BJP national president in his address said regional parties do not have a future and they will not exist. He said it is only their party which will exist in the country.”

    “From this statement, one thing is clear, which was also the complaint of Nitish Kumar, that the BJP finishes off its allies gradually,” the NCP president said.

    Citing an example, Pawar said a party like the Akali Dal was with them (BJP).

    “Its leader Prakash Singh Badal was with them, but today the party is nearly finished in Punjab,” he said.

    In Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena and BJP were together for several years, he pointed out.

    “Today, the BJP is planning how the Shiv Sena can be weakened by creating a division in the party, and (present Maharashtra CM) Eknath Shinde and others helped,” he added.

    In doing this, the Shiv Sena was attacked by the party which was once its ally, he said.

    A similar picture was being seen in Bihar.

    Nitish Kumar, of the JD(U), and the BJP contested the last Assembly elections together, he said.

    “One more speciality of the BJP is that it joins hands with a regional party at the time of elections, but ensures the ally wins fewer seats. It happened in Maharashtra also,” Pawar claimed.

    When a similar picture was being witnessed in Bihar, the CM of the state got cautious well in advance and took the decision to snap ties with the BJP, he said.

    “No matter how much BJP leaders criticise Nitish Kumar, but he has taken a wise step. He took the decision anticipating the crisis the BJP was planning to bring on. I think he took a wise decision for his state and party,” Pawar said.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday took a swipe at Sharad Pawar, saying that there was “something else” that was hurting more to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president.

    Fadnavis made the comment in the wake of Pawar’s criticism of the BJP, in which he accused it of finishing off its regional allies gradually.

    Pawar also said that the BJP was planning to weaken the Shiv Sena and create a division in the party.

    “There is something else that hurts Pawar more. Everyone knows it,” Fadnavis told reporters in Thane.

    Pawar’s party was a constituent of the previous Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, which collapsed in June this year following a revolt by Sena MLA Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators.

    Fadnavis said, “In the last Bihar Assembly elections, the BJP had won more seats that the JD(U), but still Nitish Kumar was made chief minister. It is the BJP that takes care of its allies.”

    “If we are not in power in Bihar (now), we would be there tomorrow for sure,” he added.

    JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Wednesday took oath as Bihar chief minister for the eighth time, while RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav was administered the oath of office as deputy chief minister.

    The ceremony took place a day after Kumar snapped ties with the BJP-led NDA and joined hands with the RJD to form a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government.

    On the expansion of the Shinde-led cabinet in Maharashtra, Fadnavis said, “There has already been a lot of speculation about the cabinet expansion in media already. But the speculation is going to be completely false. Once the portfolios are allocated, you will realise it.”

    A day earlier, CM Shinde expanded his cabinet, 41 days after taking the oath of office.

    A total of 18 MLAs, including nine each from the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the BJP, took oath as the cabinet ministers.

    PUNE: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of finishing off its regional allies gradually, and supported Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to snap ties with the BJP.

    Speaking to reporters in Baramati town of Maharashtra’s Pune district, Pawar claimed the BJP was planning how to weaken the Shiv Sena and create a division in the party.

    Pawar’s party was a constituent of the previous Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government, which collapsed in June this year following a revolt by Sena MLA Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators.

    Nitish Kumar had on Tuesday pulled the plug on his party JD(U)’s alliance with the BJP and resigned, and followed it up by staking claim to form a new government in Bihar with support of the opposition Grand Alliance.

    Notably, BJP national president J P Nadda recently said in the times to come only an ideology-driven party like the BJP will survive, while others ruled by families will perish.

    Pawar on Wednesday claimed that “the BJP national president in his address said regional parties do not have a future and they will not exist. He said it is only their party which will exist in the country.”

    “From this statement, one thing is clear, which was also the complaint of Nitish Kumar, that the BJP finishes off its allies gradually,” the NCP president said.

    Citing an example, Pawar said a party like the Akali Dal was with them (BJP).

    “Its leader Prakash Singh Badal was with them, but today the party is nearly finished in Punjab,” he said.

    In Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena and BJP were together for several years, he pointed out.

    “Today, the BJP is planning how the Shiv Sena can be weakened by creating a division in the party, and (present Maharashtra CM) Eknath Shinde and others helped,” he added.

    In doing this, the Shiv Sena was attacked by the party which was once its ally, he said.

    A similar picture was being seen in Bihar.

    Nitish Kumar, of the JD(U), and the BJP contested the last Assembly elections together, he said.

    “One more speciality of the BJP is that it joins hands with a regional party at the time of elections, but ensures the ally wins fewer seats. It happened in Maharashtra also,” Pawar claimed.

    When a similar picture was being witnessed in Bihar, the CM of the state got cautious well in advance and took the decision to snap ties with the BJP, he said.

    “No matter how much BJP leaders criticise Nitish Kumar, but he has taken a wise step. He took the decision anticipating the crisis the BJP was planning to bring on. I think he took a wise decision for his state and party,” Pawar said.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday took a swipe at Sharad Pawar, saying that there was “something else” that was hurting more to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president.

    Fadnavis made the comment in the wake of Pawar’s criticism of the BJP, in which he accused it of finishing off its regional allies gradually.

    Pawar also said that the BJP was planning to weaken the Shiv Sena and create a division in the party.

    “There is something else that hurts Pawar more. Everyone knows it,” Fadnavis told reporters in Thane.

    Pawar’s party was a constituent of the previous Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, which collapsed in June this year following a revolt by Sena MLA Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators.

    Fadnavis said, “In the last Bihar Assembly elections, the BJP had won more seats that the JD(U), but still Nitish Kumar was made chief minister. It is the BJP that takes care of its allies.”

    “If we are not in power in Bihar (now), we would be there tomorrow for sure,” he added.

    JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Wednesday took oath as Bihar chief minister for the eighth time, while RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav was administered the oath of office as deputy chief minister.

    The ceremony took place a day after Kumar snapped ties with the BJP-led NDA and joined hands with the RJD to form a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government.

    On the expansion of the Shinde-led cabinet in Maharashtra, Fadnavis said, “There has already been a lot of speculation about the cabinet expansion in media already. But the speculation is going to be completely false. Once the portfolios are allocated, you will realise it.”

    A day earlier, CM Shinde expanded his cabinet, 41 days after taking the oath of office.

    A total of 18 MLAs, including nine each from the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the BJP, took oath as the cabinet ministers.