Page 18 - Sharad Pawar

Parkash Singh Badal cremated at ancestral village; leaders pay respects

Parkash Singh Badal was cremated on Thursday at his ancestral village in Punjab's Muktsar district with thousands of mourners and leaders across the political spectrum paying their last respects to the Akali stalwart and five-time chief minister. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal lit the pyre at the funeral held with full state honours. Badal's mortal remains were taken to the family's farmland around a kilometer from the residence on a flower-decked tractor-trolley with his son Sukhbir Singh Badal and other family members standing with folded hands as the vehicle moved past mourners on the route. Leaders cutting across party lines, including BJP president J P Nadda, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, visited Badal village to pay their last respects. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, senior BJP leader Tarun Chugh, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, and former union minister Praful Patel paid homage

Ajit Pawar leads race in 'Future CM' banners, Sharad Pawar not enthused

On Wednesday, Ajit Pawar's banners-posters as 'Future CM' popped up in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nashik and all the way in Nagpur

Will take firm stand if anyone attempts to break NCP, says Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said NCP would have to act firmly if anyone is strategising to break the party, the comments coming against the backdrop of a buzz about his nephew Ajit Pawar's next political move. Notably, amid rumours that he is cosying up with the ruling BJP, Ajit Pawar on Friday said he would "100 per cent like to be the chief minister" of Maharashtra and that the NCP can stake a claim to the post of the CM "now also" instead of waiting for 2024 when Assembly polls are due in the state. Tomorrow if anyone is attempting to break the party (NCP) then it is their strategy. If we have to take any stand, then we have to do it firmly. "It is improper to talk about this today because we have not discussed this (issue), Sharad Pawar said without elaborating. He was responding to a question on rumoured attempts to break away Ajit Pawar from NCP in the event of 16 MLAs of Shiv Sena, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, are disqualified by the ..

Adani meets Sharad Pawar amid JPC probe demand into Hindenburg row

Industrialist Gautam Adani met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence here on Thursday amid the Opposition's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani-Hindenburg issue. The meeting, held at Pawar's residence Silver Oak in south Mumbai this morning, lasted for nearly two hours, sources said. Earlier this month, Pawar had come out in support of the Adani group and criticised the narrative around the US short seller Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate. Taking a position at variance from senior ally Congress, Pawar had said he favoured a Supreme Court committee to probe allegations against the Adani group since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would have a majority in the JPC based on numerical strength in Parliament and this would lead to doubts on such a probe. The NCP supremo had later said although his outfit does not agree with the demand of anti-BJP parties for a JPC probe into allegations

Maharashtra's politics churns amid speculations of Ajit Pawar jumping ships

The four-time ex-Deputy CM of Maharashtra has dismissed all the rumours of him switching sides and even rubbished his rumoured bid to switch over to the BJP

Ahead of Karnataka assembly polls, Sharad Pawar chairs NCP meeting

NCP is likely to field candidates in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, according to the report. During the 2018 polls, NCP contested 14 seats in Karnataka

Will meet Opposition leaders in Delhi tomorrow: NCP's Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar said he would be meeting opposition leaders in Delhi on Friday to forge cooperation among them. Efforts by some opposition parties to forge an alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party have begun over the past few days, with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday and Communist Party of India's D Raja on Thursday. Aam Aadmi Pary leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too had met Kumar. who was accompanied by Bihar Deputy CM and RLD leader Tejashwi Yadav, on Wednesday. Queried about his absence from Wednesday's meeting, Pawar, a stalwart of the opposition, said he was asked to join the meeting in Delhi but was unable to do so as he had work in Pune. "I will meet all of them as I am travelling to Delhi tomorrow. We (opposition) will all cooperate and offer (each other) support," Pawar said. Pawar refused to answer questions on speculation about his party .

Ajit Pawar's future bright with NCP, he will not join BJP, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut said that the future of Ajit Pawar is bright with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and he might not join BJP.

MVA should work unitedly irrespective of differing opinions: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), of which his party is a constituent along with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, should work together unitedly even though the allies may have differences of opinion. Talking to reporters here, Pawar said the issue of unity among the allies was discussed during his meeting with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday. Pawar said some programmes have been decided for the unity of the alliance. "Everyone should participate in these programmes. This is the policy we agreed on yesterday," he said. The meeting between Pawar and Thackeray took place days after the NCP chief favoured a probe by a Supreme Court panel into allegations against the Adani Group over a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have been insisting on a JPC probe. Pawar had earlier said although the NCP did not agree with the dema

Explained: Criteria for becoming national party, roles, advantages and more

The Election Commission of India revised the list of national and state political parties, elevating AAP to national party while demoting NCP and TMC

The Pawar gambit: Why did the Maratha strongman come to Adani's defence?

It may be too early to say that the political chameleon from Maharashtra is changing colours again

Efforts on to divide people and involve them in temple politics: Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed attempts were being made to divide people based on caste and religion and rulers are not interested in resolving problems of people but are instead trying to divert their attention with "temple politics". Addressing a function here in north Maharashtra, Pawar blamed the economic policy of the current Union government for the plight of Marathi-speaking textile mill workers in Mumbai. Pawar also accused the government of trying to weaken labour unions and make them dependent on it and appealed to workers in the country to unite to secure their future. "At many places, government works are closing. There are attempts to divide people over caste and religion. There are many issues such as unemployment, price rise and there are expectations that power should be used to resolve these problems but rulers are not interested," he claimed. In a veiled jibe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who is on Ayodhya visit, Pa

SC committee on Adani issue will have limited terms of reference: Congress

The Congress on Saturday said the Supreme Court committee to look into the Hindenburg research report on Adani group has limited terms of reference and "cannot bring out the deep nexus between" the prime minister and the billionaire businessman. The remarks came soon after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar said this panel will be more useful and effective than a joint parliamentary committee to probe the Adani issue. "The Supreme Court Committee has very limited terms of reference. It cannot bring out the deep nexus between PM and Adani," said AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh. "Only a JPC can find answers to the HAHK (Hum Adanike Hain Kaun) series of 100 questions and more that are emerging," he also said, adding that the "JPCs in 1992 and 2001 were both worthwhile exercises". Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also tweeted in Hindi, "They hide the truth, that's why they mislead everyday! The question remains the same - who's Rs 20,000 crore benami money is in ...

Sharad Pawar's stand on Adani will not affect Opposition unity: Sanjay Raut

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday said Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar not favouring formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe allegations against the Adani group will not lead to cracks in opposition unity. Talking to reporters, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said Pawar has not given a clean chit but expressed his views of options on how to carry out the probe. In an interview to NDTV, Pawar came out in support of the Adani Group and criticised the narrative around Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate. Raut added the opposition is firm on its demand for a JPC probe. "Be it (West Bengal chief minister) Mamata Banerjee or NCP, there could be different opinions about Adani, but that will not lead to cracks in (opposition) unity in Maharashtra or in the country," asserted Raut, a key aide of former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Earlier in the day, Pawar had said he favoured a Supreme Court committee to probe allegations aga

After row, Sharad Pawar 'clarifies' on JPC probe remarks, bats for SC panel

Pawar said he was not opposed to the JPC probe, but if the Committee comprises 21 members, then 15 would be from the ruling side and the remaining six from the Opposition side

Oppn must heed Pawar's statement on Adani: Maha CM in swipe at Cong, Uddhav

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has taken a swipe at the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray by asking them to heed the words of Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar on the Adani issue. United States-based Hindenburg Research had alleged large scale stock manipulation and accounting fraud in the firms of billionaire Gautam Adani, leading to strident protests by the opposition Congress and others against the Narendra Modi government. The group had refuted the allegations. In an interview to NDTV, Pawar came out in support of the Adani Group and criticised the narrative around Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate. "Such statements were given by other individuals earlier too and there was a ruckus in Parliament for a few days but this time out-of-proportion importance was given to the issue," he said. "The issues that were kept, who kept them, we had never heard of these people who gave the statement, what is the background. When they .

Targeting Adani, demand of JPC worthless, says Pawar on Hindenburg report

Extending support to the Adani Group, Pawar said that the report seems like an individual industrial group of the country was targeted

NCP chief Sharad Pawar opposes govt's plan to import milk products

NCP chief and former agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday opposed any government plan to import milk products such as butter and ghee, contending that it would impede the revival of the dairy sector. In a letter to Parshottam Rupala, the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Pawar referred to media reports about the government's "intention" to import dairy products such as butter and ghee. "Any decision by the central government in this regard will be totally unacceptable because the import of these products will directly affect the income of the domestic milk producers," Pawar said. He said the dairy farmers have recently come out of the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis and such a decision will severely impede the sector's revival process. "My concern may please be heeded. I shall be happy if the matter is looked into and the ministry deters itself from taking any decision to import the milk products," Pawar said. Animal Husbandry and Dairy Secretary Rajesh

Savarkar not national issue, Oppn should realise BJP's politics: Pawar

Amid plans by BJP and Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to carry out Savarkar Gaurav Yatra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that Savarkar is not a national issue

Pawar asks Cong to tone down attack amid row over Rahul's Savarkar remark

Amid strains in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi alliance over Rahul Gandhi's strident criticism of V D Savarkar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has stepped in to play the peacemaker by conveying the Shiv Sena's concerns on the issue to the Congress leadership. Opposition leaders said Congress has agreed to tone down its criticism of Savarkar, which has led to unease among the NCP and Shiv Sena, its alliance partners in Maharashtra. Pawar raised the issue during a meeting of opposition leaders convened by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday evening and made it clear that targeting Savarkar, a revered figure in Maharashtra, would not help the opposition alliance in the state, two leaders who attended the meeting told PTI. Former Congress Presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were present at the meeting along with leaders of opposition parties. Pawar also told Rahul Gandhi that Savarkar was never a member of the RSS and underscored that the real fight of the opposition parties was