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Journalism of Courage
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his ‘absence’ during the recent Parliament session and also mimicked his style of speech.
Pawar, who was addressing a farmers’ morcha to Osmanabad collectorate in Marathwada region, said, “During the 20 days (of Parliament session), the country’s PM did not even peek inside our House (Rajya Sabha).”
“Forget about discussion (in the House), he did not even give us his ‘darshan'” Pawar said.
“Tomorrow morning, you will hear (PM’s Independence speech): Beheno aur bhaiyon,” said Pawar, mimicking Modi’s nasal intonation while beginning his speeches.
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“But in 20 days (of Parliament monsoon session), the PM did not see any brother or sister anywhere,” Pawar said.
“The government should rush to help those in distress. However, when farmers are facing such an unprecedented crisis, the government is not bothered,” he said.
Pawar Friday said his party will launch a ‘jail bharo’ stir in Maharashtra if the government fails to provide relief to drought-affected farmers within a month’s time.
“People should oust (from power) those who are responsible for farmers committing suicides,” Pawar said, as he began a three-day visit of drought-affected Marathwada region today.
Friday’s rally was the first major protest march the former Union minister led in 35 years. The last major rally Pawar led was in December 1980, from Jalgaon to Nagpur.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Vinod Tawde taunted Pawar, saying the NCP chief has to take to the streets as there is no other suitable leader in that party.
“Does Pawar himself leading the Osmanabad morcha mean that other NCP state leaders like Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Jayant Patil have proved to be ineffective?” Tawde asked.
Responding to Tawde’s comments, Leader of Opposition in Council Dhananjay Munde said, “Instead of commenting on effective leaders in NCP, Tawde, who holds a bogus degree and is a bogus minister, should check veracity of his degree.”
