Opposition INDIA’s Sharad Pawar set to share stage with PM Modi; Uddhav Thackeray’s party says ‘reconsider decision’ | India News

NEW DELHI: At a time when the members of opposition’s INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance)are going hammer and tongs against the NDA government demanding Prime Minister’s statement on the Manipur issue in Parliament, a key leader from their ranks – National Congress Party’s Sharad Pawar – is all set to share stage with PM Modi.

The former Union minister, who was the architect of the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, is scheduled to attend an event organised by the Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust in Pune as the chief guest on August 1 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award.
Also present on the stage will be Ajit Pawar, the nephew of Sharad Pawar who split his Nationalist Congress Party and is now the deputy chief minister in BJP-led NDA government in Maharashtra.

Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena wants Sharad Pawar to reconsider his decision to attend the event.
Shiv Sena (UT) MP Arvind Sawant said, “Tilak had given the slogan ‘Swaraj is my birthright’. But ‘is there Swaraj today?’ In today’s situation he (Pawar) should think … It is ‘swa – rajya’ instead – the rule of one person,” he said and added that Pawar should reconsider his decision.
“Leaders of their party (BJP) are destroying the Constitution of India, he (Pawar) should not go there,” he added.

Several other leaders of the opposition bloc INDIA are also upset as they feel Sharad Pawar’s move will be bad optics for the alliance. More so as the senior Pawar, alongwith Uddhav Thackeray, are set to play host to the third meeting of opposition alliance later this month.
Prime Minister Modi has been relentless in his attack against the opposition’s new alliance, more so after it was named INDIA. The Prime Minister has cited examples of terror organisations like Indian Mujahideen to deride opposition’s move to call their alliance INDIA. Several Union ministers and key BJP leaders have also been vocal in their attack against the opposition’s alliance.
However, as of now there is no change in Sharad Pawar’s decision to attend the event.
Rohit Tilak, vice-president of the Trust, has confirmed that Pawar will be there for the award ceremony.
“There is no change in the programme. Pawar Saheb, who is the chief guest, will be attending the event. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, and Sushil Kumar Shinde, who is also a trustee, will also be attending the event,” he said.
Ironically, while Sharad Pawar gets ready to hand over the award to Prime Minister, members of his INDIA are planning a protest against the PM’s visit on Tuesday.
The Congress’ youth wing in Pune has put up posters with the message “Go Back Modi” in some parts of the city as a mark of protest against the unrest in Manipur.
Meanwhile, speaking at a book launch function on Sunday, Sharad Pawar said if his party, the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) decide they can usher in change in Maharashtra.
Shared stage with MVA allies – Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat – Pawar said it was difficult to engage with the present Maharashtra government.
(With inputs from agencies)