Ajit Pawar should have left dais or corrected PM after his criticism of Sharad Pawar: Anil Deshmukh

Anil Deshmukh. File Pic

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar should have left the dais in protest in Shirdi or corrected Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he questioned NCP chief Sharad Pawar's contribution to the farming community, said former state minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

Anil Deshmukh was referring to PM Modi's address on Thursday where he performed puja at the revered Saibaba temple in Shirdi, inaugurated a slew of developmental projects and gave a public address.

"Those doing politics of vote in the name of farmers have made you yearn for every drop of water. Some people in Maharashtra only did politics in the name of farmers. A senior leader of Maharashtra served as the country's agriculture minister. I personally respect him, but what has he done for farmers?" PM Modi said, without naming Sharad Pawar, reported PTI.

The NCP founder served as the agriculture minister when the Congress-led UPA government was in office at the Centre (2004-14). Modi said when Sharad Pawar was the Union agriculture minister, farmers had to be at the mercy of middlemen.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Anil Deshmukh, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP, said Ajit Pawar was sitting on the dais when Modi made the statement against their party founder, reported PTI.

"Ajit Dada should have left the dais (in protest) or given proper information to PM Modi so that he could correct his statement (against Sharad Pawar)," said Deshmukh.

The NCP leader said PM Modi has in the past praised Sharad Pawar for his contribution to the farming community, reported PTI.

Deshmukh alleged that PM Modi has now changed his stand ahead of the elections and demanded that the PM correct his statement with regard to Sharad Pawar, reported PTI.

The NCP split on July 2 after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government.

Meanwhile, amid mounting pressure on the Maharashtra government over the Maratha quota issue, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Friday took a swipe at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying one should not make a promise if it cannot be fulfilled.

His remark comes in the wake of activist Manoj Jarange launching an indefinite fast in his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district on Wednesday to seek reservation for Marathas.

(With inputs from PTI)