Din in Maha Houses; Ajit, Sharad ‘sorry’
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday apologised for the controversial “urination” remarks made by his nephew, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, on Saturday. Following his uncle’s demand, Mr Ajit Pawar also admitted that his crass remark was the “biggest mistake of his life”. However, the Opposition is not happy with the Pawars’ apology and demanded immediate ouster of Ajit Pawar from the state Cabinet.
In a public rally in Pune district on Saturday, the Maharashtra DCM had asked whether he should urinate to fill dry dams in the state. The comments have evoked widespread criticism. Terming his nephew’s comments as “unwanted”, the NCP chief said on Twitter, “I duly apologise on the behalf of deputy CM of Maharashtra for the unwanted comment that he made.” This was the second time in three months that the senior Pawar has had to apologise for his nephew. In February this year, the NCP chief had tendered an apology for Ajit’ Pawars comments that journalists should be thrashed.
Later in the evening, Ajit Pawar issued another apology, which was his third apology in two days. “I feel that my statement a couple of days ago is the biggest mistake of my political life. I apologise for it and request the people to forgive me,” he said.
Earlier in the day, both the Houses of the state legislature were disrupted because of the pandemonium over Ajit Pawar’s remarks. While the Opposition demanded Ajit Pawar’s resignation and detailed debate over the remarks, the NCP legislators disrupted the House on the grounds that the issue was over after Ajit Pawar’s apology. In the Legislative Assembly, members of the Opposition were in the well shouting slogans against the deputy chief minister and demanding his resignation. They even wanted a debate through adjournment motion on the issue.
The Lower House was adjourned five times before being adjourned for the day.
Making a personal clarification, Ajit Pawar admitted that he should have used his words carefully. He said, “My comments on Saturday were not directed towards drought affected people and I had no intention to hurt anybody’s sentiments.”
Opposition members continued to shout slogans against Ajit Pawar even as he was making the statement. Leader of the Opposition Eknath Khadse said, “Mocking the drought-affected people and then apologising will not be tolerated. Mr Pawar has to be removed. He is unfit to be in a ministerial position.”
Mr Pawar tendered apology in the Legislative Council also. Maharashtra home minister R.R. Patil said that there was a controversy over Mr Pawar’s comments because “people had high expectations from the NCP”.
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