Only BJP leaders benefit from this state govt, says Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis while addressing his party’s convention in Karjat on Tuesday when he slammed the government’s performance. “This government is nowadays releasing an ad campaign called ‘Mi Labharthi (I am beneficial)’. But it is time to start campaign Mi Apamanit (I am insulted),’” Mr Pawar said.

“If there are any beneficiaries in this government, they are the leaders only,” said Mr Pawar. He also castigated the BJP government over various issues from loan waiver to urban problems and social media.

In his hour-long speech on the current issues of state and central politics, the NCP chief criticised the BJP governments at the Centre and the state. “I can see the concentration of power in a few people’s hand. It is dangerous for any country. History of such examples around the world have shown us that this concentration diverts power’s focus from the people and leads to its misuse. The government in Delhi is walking down that line,” said Mr Pawar.

On the loan waiver issue, the former Maharashtra chief minister gave details of the government’s decision and bankers’ position and said that the government’s approach is completely wrong. The NCP has decided to launch a state-wide agitation in the first week of December over the loan waiver issue and will hold a big march against the government in Nagpur on December 11 when the winter session of state legislation will begin.

Touching on the controversy around officers on special duty in chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office, Mr Pawar read out social media posts of these officials. “How can government employees write political posts on social media?” asked Mr Pawar. Mr Pawar also lambasted the state government over its spending on advertisement.