Lok Sabha elections 2024: PM Modi's speeches not based on facts and reality, says Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar. File Pic

Amid ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his speeches were not based on facts and reality.

Talking to reporters in Kolhapur, Sharad Pawar also alleged that PM Modi doesn't talk about the basic issues that people face and diverts their attention.

"I have never seen a prime minister earlier whose speeches were not based on facts and reality. He is satisfied with targeting me and Uddhav Thackeray," Pawar said, reported PTI.

Wondering why Maharashtra was voting in five phases in the current Lok Sabha elections 2024, he said, "It is because Modi can campaign here as much as possible...Those in power are worried."

He alleged that PM Modi's frequent remark that if voted to power, the INDIA bloc would bring reservation based on religion, was an attempt to create social tension, reported PTI.

"We have never said this. This is Modi's creation," Pawar said.

Modi has also been speaking about redistribution of wealth and inheritance tax, which does not have any mention in the Congress manifesto, the veteran politician added, reported PTI.

While campaigning in the state, PM Modi targeted Sharad Pawar, saying, "There is a 'bhatakti atma' (wandering soul) in Maharashtra. If it does not manage success it spoils others' good work. Maharashtra has been a victim of it."

Pawar's NCP (SP) is contesting 10 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT), which is fighting on 21 seats and Congress 17 seats.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said the Narendra Modi government has betrayed Maharashtra, and he apologises to the people for seeking votes for the prime minister in earlier elections, reported PTI.

Thackeray and his Maha Vikas Aghadi ally and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar spoke at a Lok Sabha elections 2024 rally at Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur district of western Maharashtra in support of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Hatkanangale constituency, Satyajit Patil, reported PTI.

Talking about the circumstances in which his government fell in 2022, Thackeray said the Supreme Court had not delivered its verdict on whose Shiv Sena was the real one, but the "Election Commission and the arbitrator (Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar) who were working as their (BJP's) servants, gave their verdicts."

"Now when PM Modi calls us fake Shiv Sena, he is putting pressure on the court," Thackeray said.

(With inputs from PTI)