Many thought I would retire: Pawar

NCP president Sharad Pawar, credited for being the chief architect of the Shiv SenaNCPCongress alliance government in Maharashtra, on Thursday said although many people thought he would retire from active politics, the people of the state, especially the youth, did not allow that to happen.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the agro exhibition organised at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Baramati, his home turf, where Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was also present.

Before Pawar started his speech, Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar greeted the NCP chief with a bouquet of flowers.

Referring to it, Pawar said in a lighter vein, "Before I could start my address, I was given a bouquet of flowers by them (Thackeray and Ajit Pawar)...It seems they have decided to retire me. I have no objection to that." "A lot of people thought that I will retire (from active politics), but that did not happen. In fact, the people of Maharashtra and the youth did not allow that to happen," he added.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena had fought the Maharashtra Assembly polls together in October last year, but their alliance collapsed after the Uddhav Thackeray-led party walked out and joined hands with the Congress and the NCP to form the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

During his speech, Pawar also said that agricultural practices across the world were changing and with new innovations, the production has also increased. "In a very populated country like India, farming and agriculture is an important sector to fulfil the needs of the common people. That is why, there is a need to bring in changes, make improvements and encourage research. We also need to ensure that these things reach the doorstep of the farmers," the former Union Agriculture Minister said. He lamented the restrictions imposed on the research of the Genetically Modified (GM) crops.

"There are limitations on the researchers to conduct research on GM crops. The main reason behind it is that the SC has put restrictions on conducting research in this field," he said. "I cannot speak whether it is the judges' job (to put such restrictions)...It is better they don't look into such issues," he added.

The people of Maharashtra and the youth did not let me retire. -SHARAD PAWAR