Sharad and Ajit Pawar already together: Sanjay Raut on meetings between uncle-nephew duo
Mumbai, Apr 21 (PTI): As three meetings between Sharad Pawar and his estranged nephew Ajit Pawar, who heads NCP, over a fortnight sparked speculation about their political reunion, Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday said the uncle-nephew duo has already come together.
Reacting to the buzz, MVA member Congress said such meetings may be held in the public interest, not necessarily for political reasons.
From the ruling camp, Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat said he won't be surprised if the Pawars mend fences and join hands.
Political circles are abuzz with the rapprochement speculation since NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar shared the stage for the third time in a fortnight on Monday, this time to discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture and the sugar industry in Pune.
Ajit downplayed the political significance of these meetings, saying families come together on occasions like engagements, and there was no need to interpret them from any other perspective.
"Both Pawars have come together already. Have you seen us talking to Eknath Shinde (who rebelled in May 2022) or sharing a public platform with him? We won't meet," Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said.
Taking a jibe at NCP leadership, Raut said, "We don't possess education and sugar institutions. We don't have Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, Vidya Pratisthan etc (mentored by Sharad Pawar)".
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said the Pawars must be thinking that since there is a buzz of two cousins coming together, so what's the harm in the uncle-nephew reunion?
He was referring to the speculation of political rapprochement triggered by recent statements of estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray.
"Such meetings may be in the public interest and not necessarily for political reasons," Wadettiwar said when asked about the latest interaction between Sharad and Ajit Pawar.
Shirsat said he won't be surprised if the Pawars reunite.
"They have already given indications. Rohit Pawar (grand nephew of Sharad Pawar) used to criticise Ajit Pawar regularly, but now he is at Ajit's feet," the Shiv Sena leader said.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said the meetings between the party chief Ajit Pawar and NCP (SP) head Sharad Pawar take place at different institutions to resolve issues regarding the cooperative and education sectors.
Relations between Sharad and Ajit Pawar strained after the latter engineered a split in NCP in July 2023 and joined the Mahayuti government. Several MLAs of NCP joined the Ajit Pawar camp, leaving the Pawar senior to battle the biggest political crisis of his life.
In the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, Ajit-led NCP bagged 41 of the 57 seats it contested, decimating the NCP (SP) faction's tally to 10.
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Maktoob Media’s X account withheld in India after government legal request
New Delhi: Maktoob Media, an independent digital news outlet known for its coverage of marginalised communities and minority issues, announced on Thursday that its official X (formerly Twitter) account has been withheld in India following a legal request from the Indian government.
The media organisation said the action was taken without any prior notice or explanation to its editorial team. In a statement issued on other platforms, Maktoob condemned the move, calling it an attack on press freedom.
“We have no knowledge of the reason for the government’s arbitrary action. It is an assault on press freedom,” the statement said.
Maktoob Media also reaffirmed its commitment to continue reporting, especially “at a time when truth is becoming a casualty.” The editorial team appealed to supporters to help amplify its journalism by sharing links from its website and other platforms.
“At this hour of crisis, we ask our allies to share links from our website to help people access our reporting. We are many, many more than them,” the statement added.
There has been no official comment from the government regarding the legal basis for the withholding of the account.
