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Union agriculture minister and the Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar scoffed at rumour about his ill-health and said he was quite hale and hearty. Pawar, who is travelling in the hilly and dense forest areas of Karnataka, told Business Standard: "I am on official visit to Karnataka since Monday to visit research institutes, meet farmers and hold series of interactive meetings especially with scientists. Today I attended meetings at the Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) of Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) and The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR). I also talked to researchers and scientists associated with Tropical Fruits."
Pawar said it has been his efforts to visit such institutes situated in mofussil areas and talk to farmers, scientists in a bid to incentivise them, motivate them. "There are about 97 Indian Council of Agriculture Research institutes and 57 agricultural universities across the country and my effort has been to pay visit to these institutes and see the present status of research and development. I am right now in the Karnataka state till Saturday and thereafter will leave for Delhi," he added.
Pawar admitted that communication was a problem being the hilly area. However, he reiterated that he was perfectly alright and was in the midst of completion of his Karnataka visit.
Earlier, Maharashtra's NCP unit chief Madhukar Pichad in a press statement said "Pawar's health is stable and fine. He is currently on an official tour to Karnataka. We request the people of Maharashtra and the country not to believe in these rumours."
When contacted Pawar's four decade friend and doctor by profession Ravi Bapat informed that NCP chief's health was stable. Similarly, Pawar's daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule, who is currently in Delhi, also confirmed that his father was doing fine.
