Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the ruling Nationalist Congress Party, challenged the opposition on Friday, saying that he would 'quit politics" if it was proven that he visited New Delhi "in disguise" to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, ahead of his party's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Following this, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that Pawar should exit since he "admitted in his own words" and called his disguised visits "criminal acts".
"Then he should exit because he admitted in his own words, in a conversation with a Marathi journalist, that he used to come to Delhi in disguise and under a different name? That was a criminal act. But if he has admitted it, and we are highlighting it, then if you want to quit politics based on your own statements, then who is stopping you?" she said.
Certain reports published in the media claimed that Pawar himself had stated during an informal conversation that he went to Delhi in disguise to meet Shah, news agency PTI reported.
During that interaction, he reportedly said, "I used to wear a mask and a cap during air travel while going to Delhi to attend those meetings. I had changed my name also for air travel."
'Maligned By Opponents With Fake Narratives': Pawar
However, after Thackeray's Sena and NCP (SP) leaders latched on to his reported statements, Pawar alleged that the reports were an effort to defame him and that he would quit politics if they were proven to be true. He also said that if the reports were found to be incorrect, then those making the allegations against him should quit politics instead of him.
Stressing that he does not do politics by hiding anything, the Maharashtra Deputy CM said on Friday, "I am an activist who works in democracy. I don't have the habit of doing politics by hiding anything. However, we have been maligned by the opponents with fake narratives and false news."
He further went on to claim that his opponents were involved in these moves since they were "shattered" due to the "good schemes" being implemented by the government, PTI reported.
"The news of me going to Delhi in disguise is false. If I want to go anywhere, I will go openly. There is no need for me to be afraid of anyone. If the reports of disguise are proven, I will quit politics," he said.
Pawar added that the facts of the reports should be verified at the Parliament.
"When this incident occurred, I was the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra assembly. Everyone recognises me and therefore, such an incident is impossible. Everything going on at present is wrong. These reports do not have any basis or evidence," he said.
Referring to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, he said: "At present, efforts are on in the state to defame me. The number of talkative people has increased. The morning siren says anything about anyone."
"The state government has launched various schemes after proper thinking and there is a plan about how these schemes can be run permanently.People should believe in us. I keep my promises. You give your blessings, these schemes will continue," he said.