Sharad Pawar told Raj Thackeray that it will be totally wrong to say that Nehru did not contribute to the nation-building.
The two prominent figures of Maharashtra politics MNS chief Raj Thackeray and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar shared a stage on Wednesday in a much-hyped function. The function was organized by Jagtik Marathi Academy and BVG group where Raj Thackeray interviewed Pawar.
Pawar being his usual self, answered the questions posed by Raj Thackeray with his own unique spin. Thackeray conducted a rapid-fire round in which he asked Pawar whether he prefers Him or Uddhav Thackeray. Pawar answered, “Thackeray family”. The answer won the hearts of the audience.
Pawar even talked about Prime Minister Modi and the recent controversy surrounding Jawaharlal Nehru. Displaying a clear displeasure over PM Modi’s remarks on former PM Jawaharlal Nehru, Pawar said such personal attacks were unprecedented and do not suit the position the person who is making the remarks is holding. Pawar however, did not mention Modi’s name. Pawar said, “The personal attacks made on the Nehru-Gandhi family do not fit into my ethics.”
याच कार्यक्रमात 'संवाद दोन पिढ्यांचा' या शीर्षाखाली महाराष्ट्रातले लोकप्रिय तरुण नेतृत्व राज ठाकरे यांच्याशी दिलखुलास गप्पा करण्याचा मुलाखतीचा कार्यक्रम राज यांच्या खुमासदार शैलीमुळे चांगलाच रंगला. या निमित्ताने महाराष्ट्रातल्या तरुणाईच्या मनातल्या प्रश्नांना उत्तरं देता आली. pic.twitter.com/8hdtTve1Ia
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) February 21, 2018
He further added that there have been contentions in politics even before this but politicians then made sure that “certain boundaries were never crossed”. In an apparent criticism to Modi’s comment that Nehru was responsible for the Kashmir issue, Pawar said, “If we say that Jawaharlal Nehru did not contribute to the nation-building, it will be totally wrong.” Recalling the former Maharashtra Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan, Pawar stressed that he has always tried to follow the principles laid down by him.
Indicating towards the increased visit to Gujarat by world leaders, Raj Thackeray asked whether Modi was promoting his home state. Pawar in reply said he definitely felt so. Ridiculing the gesture he said, “The two things have become significant with any country chief’s visit to India-a hug by Modi and a visit to Ahmedabad.” He said that this is also a topic of discussion in parliament corridors, adding that ruling a state is easier compared to ruling the entire country.
महाराष्ट्राच्या राजकीय इतिहासातील अभूतपूर्व मुलाखत, मुक्त संवाद दोन पिढ्याच्या… थेट प्रक्षेपण राजसाहेबांच्या अधिकृत फेसबुक पेजवर.. https://t.co/KpmTGvfd2q
— MNS Adhikrut (@mnsadhikrut) February 21, 2018
Talking about the authoritarian nature of Modi government, he said the government lacks teamwork and the cabinet ministers aren’t delegated authority to take a decision without Modi’s consent.
Rubbishing the claims of growing closeness between him and Modi, Pawar said, “I never guided Modi in politics.” He said, “I became his good friend during his stint as a Gujarat Chief Minister.” However, he clarified that it did not have any hidden motive. Pawar said Modi used to seek his help to get the proposals of Gujarat approved by the then UPA government.
Recalling the days of the formation of his party NCP, he said that although he had differences with the party leadership, he never left the Nehru-Gandhi ideology.
Answering the question whether Congress can give a tough fight to BJP in 2019, he said that he firmly believed that only Congress can take on the ruling BJP. He also expressed faith on Rahul Gandhi who seems to have upped his game. Praising Rahul Gandhi’s young leadership he said that the Gandhi scion has been working very hard lately and is learning to understand the problems of the citizens.
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