‘MNS chief silent on common man’s issues, doing BJP’s bidding’

NCP chief Sharad Pawar says attempts being made to disturb the social unity in Maharashtra

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has lashed out at MNS chief Raj Thackeray and said that he is doing the BJP’s bidding instead of speaking on issues faced by the common man. Pawar said that Raj didn’t utter a single word about the BJP at his Thane rally but targeted the NCP, a key constituent in the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by the Shiv Sena.

Pawar said, “He tried to discharge the responsibility which the BJP may have given him. It is obvious that we got to hear through his (Raj’s) speech that the BJP guided him.” Pawar added that it is a time to speak about inflation and unemployment, which Raj chose not to.

NCP chief said, Raj instead made a strong case for the uniform civil code and stressed on controlling population growth. Dismissing Raj’s allegation that he (Pawar) is an atheist, Pawar said, “I go to temples but don’t believe in showing off. Attempts are being made to disturb the social unity in Maharashtra.”

Raj had said that if the Shiv Sena-led state government did not remove the loudspeakers from mosques before May 3, MNS workers would play the Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques. Pawar attacked Raj for this threat and said that the state government should deal with it firmly. “The government will think over it seriously,” he added. Pawar termed “childish” Raj Thackeray’s claim that the Enforcement Directorate had raided the family members of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, but not his own daughter Supriya Sule.

Hitting out at Raj, Pawar said that people need not take the statements of a person seriously who makes a statement once in six months or a year. “I appeal to people to not fall prey to such steps aimed at jeopardising peace,” Pawar said.