NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday criticised senior BJP leader Ashish Shelar over his appeasement politics barb, saying it is wrong for a senior minister to make remarks that could create religious or caste divisions, reported news agency PTI.
Pawar was responding to Shelar`s claim that Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are practising appeasement politics by only pointing out duplicate Hindu voter names, while ignoring similar cases with Muslim electors.
“Everyone should ensure that social unity prevails, and those who are in power have more responsibility towards this. If a senior minister in the state government is making such remarks, which can create religious and caste divide, then it is not good for the state,” the NCP (SP) chief told reporters in Baramati.
Pawar also referred to complaints about farmers receiving paltry amounts in insurance claims.
He appealed to the state government to provide immediate assistance to farmers affected by heavy rains and floods in August and September.
“The priority of the government should be to help farmers and make them stand again. Farmers have taken farm insurance, and they should get the relief. However, there are complaints about farmers receiving paltry amounts”, Pawar said, reported PTI.
He said the Union Agriculture Minister has acknowledged this issue and is conducting an inquiry, but the priority should be to help farmers who are in crisis, reported PTI.
Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar on Monday accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS head Raj Thackeray of engaging in appeasement politics and conspiring to pressure government staff ahead of the local body polls in the state.
The Opposition is attempting to create a “fake narrative,” BJP leader Shelar further charged.
“They are trying to create pressure on the staff and influence the upcoming elections. This is our direct allegation,” he told reporters in Mumbai.
“The Thackerays and Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders are committing a sin — from hating Biharis to targeting their own Marathi people. They can oppose us politically, but must not stoop so low. By pointing out multiple entries of Hindu voters, they are sowing the seeds of Hindu-Muslim division. Why did they stop short of naming voters from other communities? We want an answer,” he said.
Reacting to Raj Thackeray`s earlier remarks that certain voters from Kalyan Rural, Murbad and Bhiwandi (in neighbouring Thane district) had voted in both their constituencies and in Mumbai`s Malabar Hill, Shelar claimed it is the height of appeasement.
“Why are only Marathi voters being targeted for duplication? Raj Thackeray seems to notice only duplicate Hindu and Marathi voters, while conveniently overlooking thousands of duplicate Muslim names in several constituencies. It seems even Raj Thackeray has now succumbed to the politics of `vote jihad`,” Shelar said.
(With inputs from PTI)
