File Picture
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday targeted Narendra Modi saying a Prime Minister should be broad-minded and have a vision for inclusive development, but unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to be so.
Pawar, 81, who has been undergoing treatment in a Mumbai hospital for the last few days, flew to Shirdi from Mumbai with doctors and addressed the party convention briefly.
“A prime minister has to have a vision for the inclusive development of all and be broad-minded but unfortunately it doesn’t appear to be so. The PM should focus more on (reviving) the weakening economy and bringing down inflation,” Pawar said in a report by PTI .
Pawar’s speech was read out by senior party leader Dilip Walse Patil as the former union minister, who made brief comments on his arrival from Mumbai, said he wouldn’t be able to speak at length.
In his speech, Pawar said the Bharatiya Janata Party has been rejected in most of the country, except in a few states, while in other states the saffron party has formed governments by “misusing” Central probe agencies.
Pawar appealed to NCP cadres to stay committed to progressive ideology and not fall prey to any “inducements”.
Earlier in the day, Pawar, who has been undergoing treatment in Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital for the last few days for infection and fever, reached the Mahalaxmi Race Course accompanied by a team of doctors and flew to Shirdi in Ahmednagar district in a helicopter.
Speaking at the NCP meeting, the veteran politician expressed confidence that the party workers would bring a ‘political change’ in the state.
At the convention, Pawar, who was looking tired, spoke for a few minutes. Pawar said he wouldn’t be able to speak at length as he has been advised to rest for 10 to 15 days.
He then asked party leader Dilip Walse Patil to read out his speech.
Pawar said except in states like Gujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and some Northeastern states, the majority of the country has rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In the states of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, the respective governments were toppled by (BJP) by misusing Central probe agencies, he alleged.
