Ajit Pawar Skips RSS Memorial Event Attended By Shinde & Fadnavis; NCP-SP Slams 'Political Theatre'

NCP-SP leader Jitendra Awhad criticised Maharashtra's Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for not joining a visit to the RSS founder's memorial, accusing him of feigning independence while sharing power with the BJP.

NCP (SP) leader and MLA Jitendra Awhad lashed out at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar for not accompanying his Cabinet colleagues, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, in visiting the Nagpur memorial of RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar on Saturday. He claimed that his actions were merely 'optics,' as he is sharing power with the BJP, which is supported by the RSS.

Shinde and Fadnavis visited the Hedgewar memorial ahead of the "Mazi Ladki Bahin" scheme event in Nagpur. Jitendra Awhad accused Pawar of trying to project himself as a leader independent of the RSS while still collaborating with the BJP in governance.

"Ajit Pawar is playing a game at a different level. He is politically sharing power with the BJP but has also been trying to project himself as a leader who will not visit the memorial (of the RSS founder). He (Ajit Pawar) acts differently in public as a politician and practices different politics behind curtains," Awhad said, news agency PTI reported.

Jitendra Awhad Dismisses PM Modi's Apology On Shivaji Maharaj Statue Collapse

Awhad also dismissed PM Modi's apology regarding the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in Sindhudurg district. "Why did Modi raise the Veer Savarkar issue and demand an apology (for those who insulted) Savarkar while speaking about the statue incident? The Savarkar issue was over before the Lok Sabha elections. It means he (Modi) did not want to apologise. Why bring up an issue nobody was discussing?" Awhad stated, as quoted by PTI.

He accused the government of negligence in arresting the sculptor involved in the Shivaji Maharaj statue's collapse, those involved in the Vishalgad fort vandalism, and the principal of a Badlapur school where two girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a staff member.

The Mumbra-Kalwa MLA in Thane district further alleged the state government over its promise to increase the monthly wages of ASHA workers by Rs 5,000 last December, but still, the payment has not been revised. "Additionally, the portion of their payment that used to come from local governing bodies has now been completely stopped. As a result, the approximately 72,000 ASHA workers in the state are being exploited by the state government," he claimed.

Awhad also claimed that Shiv Sena leader and state Health Minister Tanaji Sawant’s negative remarks about the NCP stemmed from Pawar's refusal to approve a file involving an inflated vehicle purchase. He sought to buy a vehicle for Rs 30 lakh, despite its actual cost being Rs 3 lakh, and had already taken a 50 per cent commission. The matter led to a heated discussion in the recent Cabinet meeting, leaving the file in limbo.