Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut attacked Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday, saying people who had accepted "slavery" should not speak about MVA leaders, news agency PTI reported. Raut's comments came a day after Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party group, referred to the former as a "nonentity." When questioned to make a statement on Pawar's remarks, Raut informed media: "Those who chose slavery...those who are cowards should not comment on us. There is no need for me to speak more on this issue. Lok Sabha elections will show who is riff-raff."
Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in July with eight MLAs and claimed the NCP, established by his uncle Sharad Pawar, as its election symbol.
"Maharashtra is insulted consistently, but those in power are keeping mum. What right do they have to criticise others?" Raut asked.
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In response to the Shiv Sena (UBT) claim that the Maharashtra government had transferred significant projects from the state to Gujarat, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stated on Monday that the administration would not have remained silent if such had been the case.
The Maharashtra deputy chief minister accused the opposition of attempting to sow confusion among the state's youngsters ahead of the polls. “They are saying projects are going away, projects are going away. How can this happen? If this was the case, I, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Chief Minister would not have kept quiet,” Ajit Pawar was quoted by Indian Express in its report.
“As the elections are drawing close, the Opposition is trying to spread misunderstandings and rumours among youths in the state and is trying to create anger against the government among them,” he said.