'Won't Oppose JPC Probe If Allies Want It': Sharad Pawar's Fresh Stance On Adani Row

Sharad Pawar, who backed the Adani Group a few days ago, over the Hindenburg row, has said that he won't oppose a JPC probe if the Opposition felt it is needed.

Maharashtra's politics seems to be undergoing a tectonic change, as the partners in the MVA alliance are rarely seen in agreement over various issues these days. To top it all, the 'Bheeshma Pitamaha' of Maharashtra politics, as he was once referred to by Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, Sharad Pawar, had been speaking in a tone different from his MVA partners over the past few days. However, on Tuesday, he seemed to be trying to align himself with the Congress and the Shiv Sena on the Adani issue.

Earlier, Pawar had backed billionaire Gautam Adani amid the ongoing tussle between the opposition and the ruling BJP over the Adani-Hindenburg issue and said that names of Ambani-Adani are being used and one must think of their contribution to the country. He said that other issues like unemployment and inflation are more important than Ambai-Adani.

However, on Tuesday Sharad Pawar firmed his stance a little on the Adani row, saying that he will not oppose a joint parliamentary committee probe if his colleagues felt it is necessary. "A friend's opinion could be different from mine, but we have to be united in this. I expressed my opinion. But if colleagues feel that a JPC probe is needed, I will not oppose it. I may not agree with their opinion, but will not allow the Opposition strength to be affected," he said.

Pawar, however, hit out at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, claiming that the latter did not consult the MVA partners — the NCP and the Congress — before resigning as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

"He should have taken his fellow parties into consideration," Pawar said in an exclusive interview to ABP Majha. Sharad Pawar said that the Chief Minister was selected by all three parties on the basis of numbers. "All the three parties were involved in this. If someone takes the decision to resign, they have the right. But the other partners in the alliance should have been consulted," Pawar said. "Taking decisions without discussion has its consequences. The fact that there was no discussion at that time cannot be denied," Pawar added.

The NCP president's comment comes close on the heels of his remarks on the Adani row and PM Modi's degree, which are quite different from the stand that Congress and Shiv Sena are taking. Amid the row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree and education qualifications, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday asked should anyone's educational degree be a political issue in the country that's facing unemployment, law & order disruption, and inflation.