Pune: Sharad Pawar’s Lonavala Meeting Sparks Controversy: Sunil Shelke Denies Allegations, Demands Evidence
Lonavala, 8th March 2024: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar is presently visiting Lonavala, where a workers’ meeting was organized by the Sharad Pawar group. Pawar personally guided his office bearers and workers in Maval during the event. Upon his arrival in Lonavala, workers greeted Sharad Pawar with trumpets, and a grand floral garlanding was arranged using a large crane. Additionally, flowers were showered on him with the assistance of a JCB. Notably, more than 100 activists and office-bearers from Lonavala joined the Ajit Pawar group in the presence of Sharad Pawar.
During the meeting, Sharad Pawar took a strong stance against the central government and the Maharashtra state government led by the Shinde government. He accused the BJP of misusing power in the country and pointed out instances where opposition figures faced legal challenges. Pawar mentioned the case of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is in jail, and drew parallels with the situation in Delhi, stating that the BJP is targeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Pawar highlighted Kejriwal’s prolonged tenure as Chief Minister and criticized the repeated summons issued by the crime branch, suggesting a plan to arrest him ahead of elections.
Sharad Pawar also drew attention to the situation in Maharashtra, where he claimed that the BJP had kept Anil Deshmukh in jail for six months. He further pointed out the imprisonment of Sanjay Raut, the editor of ‘Samana’ (Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece), and Thackeray faction MP Sanjay Raut for four months. Pawar argued that the actions against Raut were a result of his criticisms of the BJP through ‘Samana,’ suggesting a restriction on freedom of speech and writing in the country.
Sharad Pawar highlighted instances of alleged misuse of power, citing examples of political figures facing legal challenges. He mentioned the case of Anil Deshmukh, who was accused of a Rs 100 crore scam during his tenure as Home Minister. Deshmukh faced imprisonment for six months, but the court ultimately acquitted him. Pawar noted that at the time, Deshmukh was accused of accepting a donation of Rs 1 crore through a cheque for a college building’s construction. He drew parallels with the imprisonment of Sanjay Raut, the editor of ‘Samana,’ by the BJP, emphasizing that no writer or editor had been jailed for criticizing political leaders in the country’s history.
Addressing a gathering, Pawar expressed concern over threats made to individuals attending the meeting and criticized the local MLA of Maval, Sunil Shelke, for allegedly threatening critics. He questioned the nature of such threats in a democracy, asserting the importance of criticism and public discourse. Pawar reminded the MLA of the support and efforts of party workers during elections, urging him to remember the party president and symbol that facilitated his political journey.
Pawar warned the MLA against mistreating party workers and emphasized the significance of supporting those who contributed to the MLA’s election. While expressing his reluctance to resort to such measures, Pawar asserted that he would not hesitate to respond if anyone created a situation that necessitated a strong response.
In response to Sharad Pawar’s criticism and allegations, Maval MLA Sunil Shelke has denied any threats and challenged the accusers to bring forth evidence within the next eight days. Shelke warned that if no evidence is provided, the entire state will view Pawar’s allegations as false. He held a press conference to explain his perspective on the situation.
Shelke clarified that he had organized a gathering and meeting of Mahavikas Aghadi workers in Maval, where Sharad Pawar was invited under pretences. The organizers misled Pawar by falsely claiming that many individuals were eager to leave Ajit Pawar’s side and join the NCP, creating an expectation of a significant turnout. However, when the program commenced, only 35 to 40 NCP party workers were present, along with 150 to 200 workers and officials from allied parties.
Shelke asserted that the situation was misrepresented to Sharad Pawar, leading to his reaction. He refuted the claim that he had threatened workers and emphasized his respect for Sharad Pawar. Shelke acknowledged that Pawar would remain a respected figure and suggested that proper verification should have been done before making statements on the matter.
