New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of Maharasthra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash and said he had made big contributions in the development of the western state and India, especially in uplifting rural lives.

Addressing a gathering at the PM National Cadet Corps (NCC) Rally at Delhi Cantonment here, the prime minister said fate took away Ajit Pawar and a few others in an accident on Wednesday morning in Pune district.

Modi welcomed the gathering, largely of NCC cadets, with a heavy heart and expressed grief over the demise of Pawar (66).

"'Ajit dada' made big contributions in the development of Maharashtra and India, especially in uplifting rural lives. I express my condolences to his family members. We stand with the kin of those who lost their lives today (in the crash)," he said.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Pawar and four others were killed in the plane crash.

The incident occurred when the deputy chief minister was travelling to Baramati from Mumbai to address public meetings as part of the NCP's campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections in the state. There were five people on board when the aircraft crashed at 8.50 am, a police official said.

Earlier in the day, Modi posted on X, "Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra."

"His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti," Modi said.

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Guwahati (PTI): The RSS on Wednesday said it has filed complaints at two police stations in Assam against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for allegedly comparing the ideology of the organisation and the BJP with a 'poisonous snake' at an election rally.

The complaints were filed to seek legal action over alleged ''derogatory, provocative, and communally sensitive statements made during a recent election rally in south Assam, a RSS spokesman said

In the complaints, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh alleged that the Congress chief had made controversial remarks during an election rally in Nilambazar under the Karimganj South assembly constituency in Sribhumi district.

"If a poisonous snake is moving in front of you while you are offering namaz, you must stop the prayer and rush to kill the poisonous snake first - that is what the Quran prescribes you to do. I tell you that the RSS and BJP are like that same poisonous snake,” Kharge was quoted as saying in the complaints.

The RSS expressed serious concern, claiming that such remarks were "inflammatory in nature and capable of inciting hostility, intimidation, and violence against workers and supporters of the RSS and the BJP".

The complaints pointed out that the statement constitutes a ''corrupt electoral practice under Section 83 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the remarks criminally intimidated the public and promoted enmity between supporters of different political and social groups''.

Describing the ideology of RSS and BJP as “poisonous” and calling for their elimination could encourage "bodily harm against members and supporters of these organisations", the complaints said.

Kharge's remarks attempt to promote ''communal division between Hindu and Muslim communities, potentially disturbing public peace and harmony in Assam and influencing the electoral environment", the RSS said.

The complainants also claimed that such statements might lead to communal tensions or clashes if not addressed promptly by authorities.

The complaints were filed by RSS' North Assam secretary Khagen Saikia at Dispur Police Station and South Assam's secretary Jyotsnamoy Chakraborty at Silchar PS.

The BJP had also filed complaints on the same allegations at the Basishta Police Station here and with the Election Commission on Tuesday.