'Fadnavis Didn't Return As CM, What Will Modi Return As,' Says Pawar, BJP Leader Hits Back

NCP chief Sharad Pawar took a dig at PM Narendra Modi over his Independence Day speech saying he is following in the footsteps of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday attacked the BJP blaming the party for breaking duly elected governments in various states, even as the ruling party's leadership spoke of providing a stable government. He also took a dig at PM Narendra Modi over his Independence Day speech saying he is following in the footsteps of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis by including a ‘mi punha yael’ (I’ll come back again) element, news agency PTI reported.

“You talk of providing a stable government but break duly elected governments in states,” Pawar said, addressing a public rally in Beed town of Maharashtra, as quoted by PTI.

The former Maharashtra chief minister also stressed that PM Modi "should have gone to Manipur and understood the pain of people there."

He went on to claim that PM Modi's assertion that he would be back to unfurl the Tricolour at the Red Fort next year (on Independence Day) was inspired by Fadnavis, who use to routinely say during the 2019 Assembly poll campaign that he would be back (mi punha yael). 

“Fadnavis did not return as CM, but came back at a lower position. One wonders what will he (Modi) return as,” he said, as quoted by PTI. 

Hitting back, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said the PM would address the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day next year as the entire country was standing with him as he is working tirelessly for its citizens.

Speaking at a 'shasan aplya daari' (government at your doorstep) programme in Shirdi, Fadnavis said, "We three have come together. You know about the working style of Shindeji and you are also aware of me and Ajit dada. We three coming together is a combination which has no challenge."

Without naming Sharad Pawar, Fadnavis retorted, "Last time, I said 'mi punha yael' (I will be back) and I can see the terror of that statement is still there. Some people are still in terror. I would like to tell him one thing that when I said 'mi punha yael', people actually brought me back but some persons betrayed us."

 "Those who betrayed us we brought their party along with us. There is no reason to doubt that the people will stand with Modiji, who has taken India to new heights and has worked tirelessly for the betterment of the country. He will once again address the country from the Red Fort on August 15 next year," the senior BJP leader added, as quoted by PTI.