Lok Sabha elections 2024: PM Modi's stand can increase communal disharmony, says Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar. File Pic

Amid ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday claimed that the stand taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recent days can increase communal disharmony in the country instead of bringing communities closer, reported news agency PTI.

Pawar was speaking at a Lok Sabha elections 2024 rally for his party's candidate Bhaskar Bhagare in Dindori (ST) Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra where the BJP has fielded sitting MP and union minister of state for health Bharti Pawar.

"Narendra Modi is the first prime minister of the country who has taken positions that would increase the communal disharmony between various religions and castes. I heard his speech today in Nashik, and it was as per my expectations. He should have taken positions that will bring the communities and religious groups closer," Sharad Pawar said, reported PTI.

PM Modi had claimed at a rally in the same constituency earlier in the day that Congress, during its rule at the Centre, had planned to allocate 15 per cent of budget to Muslims.

Pawar also referred to water scarcity in the region. "Nashik district has an issue of water availability and its distribution. Some of the available water is diverted towards Gujarat; what is the state leadership doing about it?" he asked, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said Maharashtra's lost glory would be restored if the INDIA block of opposition parties came to power, reported PTI.

Speaking at a Lok Sabha elections 2024 campaign rally for his party's candidate from Nashik Lok Sabha seat, Rajabhau Waje, he also promised farmers guaranteed Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce, and scrapping of GST on farm inputs.

Maharashtra gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi more than 40 MPs in 2014 and 2019 elections, but got nothing in return, Thackeray alleged, reported PTI.

"You promised two crore jobs. Where are those jobs? Some Gujaratis deny Marathi people entry. Shall we bear it? ASHA workers are not getting their honorarium for months. There are no health facilities, jobs, no money to farmers and no crop loans. I promise to regain the lost glory of Maharashtra after coming to power. I also promise farmers MSP for crops. I will cancel the GST on fertilizers, seeds when an INDIA government comes to power at the Centre," he said, reported PTI.

He also lashed out at the Union government for banning onion exports earlier.

"Now, the ban has been lifted, but export duty has been imposed," Thackeray pointed out.

He also criticised the prime minister for not visiting Manipur since ethnic strife began in the north-eastern state last year, and campaigning for JD (S) leader Prajwal Revanna who is caught up in a sex abuse scandal, reported PTI.

PM Modi and Amit Shah were the masterminds of the "conspiracy to finish off Shiv Sena", Thackeray alleged.

His party supported the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, but did Kashmir return to normalcy or Kashmiri Pandits return to the Valley, the Sena (UBT) chief asked.

(With inputs from PTI)