Page 11 - Sharad Pawar

Congress' Milind Deora hails 'evolving chemistry' of INDIA partners

Ahead of the crucial meeting of the INDIA bloc in Mumbai, Congress leader Milind Deora on Sunday said seat sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls among alliance partners is more or less finalised in many states with only a few states requiring more time. Deora, who is closely involved in the organising of the meeting, hailed the "evolving chemistry" between Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners and said the best example of that was in Maharashtra. In an interview with PTI ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting on August 31-September 1, the Congress leader from Maharashtra also asserted that there are "no problems" within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction). His remarks come close on the heels of a "split" in the NCP with Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state on July ...

NCP questions Smriti Irani's silence over Muzaffarnagar school incident

The Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Saturday questioned Union minister Smriti Irani's "silence" over the incident in which a teacher in Uttar Pradesh allegedly asked her students to slap a boy from a minority community. Irani heads the Women and Child Development Ministry. The party also demanded a severe punishment against the teacher to ensure that such crimes against children do not take place again. The video shows the teacher of a private school in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar asking Class 2 students to slap their classmate from a minority community. She is also heard passing objectionable remarks against the community. The incident has triggered a nationwide outrage. "Treating a child like this is a crime that must be punished severely. This act by the teacher will scar that child's life and corrupt the minds of the kids who were forced to hit," NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said in a statement. Calling the incident incident as .

Media misrepresented me, Ajit Pawar is not our leader: Sharad Pawar

"This is your (media's) fault. That was said by Supriya and it also appeared in newspapers. Given the kind of stand he has taken, he is not our leader," Pawar said

Hiked duty on onion exports must be lifted, says NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has said the 40 per cent duty on onion export must be revoked, and also claimed that the Union government might impose restrictions on sugar exports too. Speaking at an event in Purandar tehsil of Pune district on Thursday, the former Union agriculture minister said it was the government's responsibility to ensure a fair price for onions. "For the last few days, farmers in the Nashik region are protesting...they are demanding fair prices for their onion produce. Onions from the country are exported, but the government has imposed a 40 per cent duty on the export. It is the responsibility of the government to give a fair price to onion growers considering the input cost and it is farmers' right to demand it, but no concrete decision has been taken," he said. The government did announce that it will procure onions at Rs 2,410 per quintal and allow export of 2 lakh tonnes, he noted, adding that in view of the input cost, the procureme

Sharad Pawar denies split, says Ajit Pawar continues to be leader of NCP

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday asserted that there was no split in the party and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar continues to be its leader. He also said that some leaders have left the NCP by taking a "different political stand", but it cannot be termed as a split. Pawar was talking to reporters at his hometown Baramati in Pune district, a day after his daughter and party's working president Supriya Sule said Ajit Pawar is a senior leader and MLA of the party. "Now, he (Ajit Pawar) has taken a stand that is against the party, and we have given a complaint to the assembly speaker and are awaiting his response," NCP's Baramati MP Sule told reporters on Thursday. When asked about Sule's statement that there is no split in NCP and Ajit Pawar was a leader of the party, Pawar senior said, "Yes, there is no question about it." "How can anybody say that there is a split in NCP? There's no question that Ajit Pawar is our party leader," he ...

80 leaders form 26 parties and 5 CMs to attend next INDIA meeting

The next INDIA alliance meet will take place in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1, Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar finalise details today

Sharad Pawar won't make 'mistake' of joining hands with BJP: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar will not make the "mistake" of joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party, like his nephew Ajit Pawar. NCP leader Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-BJP government in Maharashtra last month as the deputy chief minister. Eight other NCP MLAs also took oath as cabinet ministers along with him. Sharad Pawar's party is a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state along with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress. "Ajit Pawar can truly be a big leader if he forms his own political party and contests elections. Ajit Pawar's politics will collapse like a sand castle if he does the same with help of the BJP, like Eknath Shinde did. In politics, towers matter and not sand castles," Raut wrote in his weekly column Rokhthok in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana'. Ajit Pawar grew politically because of his uncle and is now working to finish off his (uncle's) political career

BJP breaks govt in states while talking about stability: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday accused the BJP of breaking duly elected governments in various states, even as the ruling party spoke of providing a stable government. 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. Pawar also said PM Narendra Modi is following in the footsteps of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis by including a mi punha yein' (I'll come back again) element in his Independence Day speech. Fadnavis did not return as CM, but came back at a lower position. One wonders what will he (Modi) return as, he said.

Misuse of Election Commission and all central agencies is happening: Raut

He stated that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar has claimed that Enforcement Directorate (ED ) decided who joins which party and it also decides who becomes a minister

Sharad Pawar's rally in Beed: NCP chief sets sights on 2024 LS election

Pawar will today address a rally in Parli, Beed the constituency of key rebel NCP Leader Dhananjay Munde. This is his second rally which is aimed at targeting those who split from the NCP

Will discuss Sharad Pawar's meeting with Ajit during INDIA conclave: Patole

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole has said that his party's top brass will discuss with NCP founder Sharad Pawar his much-debated meeting with politically estranged nephew and state deputy CM Ajit Pawar when the INDIA alliance holds its conclave in Mumbai later this month. Talking to reporters after a core committee meeting of the state Congress, Patole said on Wednesday that there was no confusion in his party about senior Pawar, who is part of the anti-BJP alliance, but confusion prevails among people. Patole said two representatives of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge were part of the MPCC core committee meeting during which discussions took place on preparations for the conclave of INDIA alliance, a grouping of anti-BJP parties, to be held in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1. Sharad Pawar has a different party. There is no confusion about Pawar sahab's (commitment towards the INDIA alliance) in the Congress, he said. Patole rejected speculation that a 'Plan 'B'

Sharad Pawar not joining NDA, says NCP's Jitendra Awhad amid speculations

Amid media reports of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar offered Sharad Pawar a berth in Union Cabinet

Sharad Pawar will not join hands with BJP in his lifetime: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday claimed that Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar will not join hands with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in his lifetime. Talking to reporters, Raut further claimed a prime minister of the opposition INDIA alliance will hoist the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi next year 2024 and the country is waiting for that auspicious moment. I don't think Sharad Pawar will join hands with the BJP till the time he lives. He is rebuilding his party, the Rajya Sabha member said. Sharad Pawar's party is an ally of the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress in Maharashtra. A meeting between Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is his nephew, at the residence of a businessman in Pune on Saturday has created a buzz in political circles. Asked whether Ajit Pawar gave any offer to Sharad Pawar during the meeting, Raut said, When did Ajit Pawar become so big to give an offer to Sharad Pawar." "It is Sharad

'Secret meetings' between Pawars a matter of concern: Maharashtra Congress

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole has said they not approve of meetings taking place "secretly" between NCP chief Sharad Pawar and state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and that it is a matter of concern for his party. Sharad Pawar is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP, while his nephew Ajit Pawar split the NCP last month to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena-BJP government. Asked by reporters on Tuesday about Pawar senior meeting his nephew in Pune on Saturday, Patole said, It is a matter of concern for us and we do not approve of the meetings taking place between the Pawars secretly." "However, this matter will be discussed by the top Congress leaders. The (opposition) INDIA alliance will also discuss it, so it would not be appropriate for me to discuss it further, he said. Patole said the Congress has decided to join hands with everyone who is willing to oppose the BJP. "There is no grain of truth in the speculation tha

'Secret meetings' between Pawars is matter of concern: Maharashtra Congress

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Tuesday said it was a matter of concern for his party that NCP chief Sharad Pawar and state deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were meeting secretly. Sharad Pawar is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP, while his nephew Ajit Pawar split the Nationalist Congress Party last month to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena-BJP government. Asked by reporters about Pawar senior meeting Ajit in Pune on Saturday, Patole said, It is a matter of concern for us and we do not approve of the meetings taking place between the Pawars secretly. However, this matter will be discussed by the top leaders of the Congress. The INDIA alliance will also discuss it, so it would not be appropriate for me to discuss it further. The Congress has decided to join hands with everyone who is willing to oppose the BJP. There is no grain of truth in the speculation that Congress is thinking of contesting Lok Sabha elections without .

Maha: No need to read too much into meeting with Sharad Pawar, says Ajit

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said nothing much happened during his meeting with his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Pune last week. Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, he said there was no need to think too much about the meeting. "Pawar Saheb (Sharad Pawar) has already clarified. The media is giving different kinds of publicity to a meeting that took place between family members, leading to confusion. There is no reason to think that anything unusual transpired at the meeting," he said. On Saturday, political circles were abuzz after a "secret" meeting took place between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar at a businessman's residence in Pune. Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Jayant Patil was also present. Asked about him leaving the premises 'hiding' in a car, Ajit Pawar said he was not there in the car. "I did not leave surreptitiously. I am someone who roams around openly. There was no reason for me to hide....I was not there in that car," he ..

No confusion in MVA, will ensure successful INDIA meet: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said there is no confusion within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over his meeting with nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune. The MVA is united and we will successfully organise the next meeting of opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1, Pawar told reporters in Baramati. This was the 82-year-old veteran politician's maiden visit to his home turf after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2. MVA constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked the NCP chief to clear the confusion such meetings between the uncle and nephew create in political circles. There is no confusion among MVA partners. We are all together and will ensure the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is organised successfully, Pawar said. Pawar asked media not to create more confusion by asking the same question. Myself, .

Maha political circles abuzz after 'secret' meeting between Pawars

NCP president Sharad Pawar and his deputy chief minister nephew Ajit Pawar, who heads the group of rebel MLAs of the party, are believed to have met at the residence of a businessman in Pune on Saturday, sparking a buzz in Maharashtra political circles. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Amol Mitkari said, "It could be a family meeting between the two leaders". Visuals aired by regional news channels showed Sharad Pawar arriving at the residence of the businessman in Koregaon Park area at around 1 pm. He left by around 5 pm. After nearly two hours, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was seen leaving the premises in a car at 6:45 pm while apparently trying to avoid cameras. The visuals showed the car brushing the gate. Maharashtra NCP president (Pawar faction) Jayant Patil is also believed to have attended the meeting. Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar were in Pune on Saturday to attend various programmes separately. BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said, "It is better to ask them (the Pawar

Manipur violence: NCP's Sharad Pawar faction holds protest in Delhi

Scores of workers of the NCP's Sharad Pawar faction gathered at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi on Monday to protest against the Centre over the ethnic violence in Manipur that has claimed more than 160 lives. Around 100 activists of the Pune unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) gathered for the protest with posters bearing messages such as "What is more valuable? Our lives or votes?" The protesters, led by the party's Pune City unit chief Prashant Jagtap, also raised slogans against the Centre and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Party MP Supriya Sule was also present at the protest. "We are staging this protest to wake the Centre up in the hope that it will take measures to restore peace in Manipur. With the Lok Sabha elections nearing, the intensity of hatred among people is increasing," a protester said. More than 160 people have been killed in the ethnic clashes in Manipur since May 3.

Dhankhar meets Kharge, Pawar to ease parliament deadlock on Manipur issue

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday met Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and NCP leader Sharad Pawar in his chamber at Parliament in a bid to break the deadlock in the house over the Manipur issue. While Dhankhar, who is also Rajya Sabha Chairman, has allowed a discussion on the issue of violence in Manipur allowing notices of some members under rule 176, the opposition has been firm in its demand that the discussion be held under rule 267 which entails suspension of all other business and the prime minister issues a statement. The Chairman has been meeting members of the opposition bloc and is seeking their cooperation for the smooth conduct of the house.