Sharad Pawar criticizes Dhananjay Munde amid controversy, calls for resignation over aide’s arrest
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday criticized Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, stating that "anyone with self-respect would have quit" after Munde’s close aide, Valmik Karad, was arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Massajog, Beed.
Despite mounting pressure from the opposition and Mahayuti allies, Munde has refused to resign, asserting he has no involvement in the case. Pawar expressed concern over the state's political climate and questioned the government’s moral responsibility, also referencing NCP minister Manikrao Kokate’s recent conviction for using forged documents to obtain low-income housing.
“The situation in Maharashtra is troubling,” Pawar said, accusing the Mahayuti government of neglecting ethical standards. “Earlier, leaders would resign in such cases to allow investigations, but this government seems unaware of moral obligations.”
Defections and political tensions
When asked about speculation of Uddhav Thackeray’s MPs defecting to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction, Pawar dismissed the possibility, stating that recent discussions with MPs from the NCP, Congress, and Thackeray’s party showed no signs of defection.
Pawar also responded to Shinde’s recent warning to Thackeray, saying, “I don’t understand what ‘Don’t take it lightly’ means. As far as I know Marathi, that phrase doesn’t exist.”
Concerns over interstate tensions
Pawar condemned the Maharashtra government's suspension of MSRTC bus services to Karnataka after alleged attacks by pro-Kannada activists in Chitradurga. He warned that halting bus services inconveniences ordinary citizens and should be avoided.
On the Mahadji Shinde Award controversy
Addressing criticism for presenting the Mahadji Shinde award to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Pawar clarified that he was merely attending the Delhi event, where several others were also felicitated. “The focus remained on Shinde, but 14 others were honored at the same event,” he said.
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Surjewala alleges BJP’s ‘anti-Kannadiga vendetta,’ claims Karnataka denied Rs 2 lakh crore by Centre
Bengaluru (PTI): AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said that the Modi-led government and the BJP’s "anti-Kannadiga vendetta" have been exposed, as Karnataka is "denied" its rightful dues of about Rs 2 lakh crore by the Centre.
He added that the deliberate silence of the Karnataka BJP regarding the Modi government's "step-motherly treatment" of Kannadigas' rights and interests cannot remain unpunished, asserting that the BJP has "betrayed" Karnataka and does not deserve the vote.
"The Modi government and the BJP’s anti-Kannadiga vendetta have been exposed in the denial of dues worth Rs 2 lakh crore to Karnataka by the central government. The Modi government has unleashed a sinister conspiracy against Karnataka by blocking core agrarian, irrigation, defence, and infrastructure projects," Surjewala said.
Speaking to reporters, he said the BJP is "harmful" for Karnataka, accusing the saffron party-led government at the Centre of denying budgetary dues, blocking development, and opposing the five Congress guarantees (Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyoti, Yuva Nidhi and Anna Bhagya).
"BJP has betrayed Karnataka, and it does not deserve the vote of Kannadigas," he added.
Claiming that the BJP’s "conspiracy" and "anti-Kannadiga vendetta" stands exposed "threadbare", the Congress leader said that BJP union ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and every single BJP leader need to answer for the stark truth.
"Enmity with Karnataka has led to the denial of its share in taxes and grants from the Centre worth about Rs 2 lakh crore," he said, listing that the denial of Karnataka’s share in the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions resulted in a loss of Rs 79,770 crore; unscientific GST implementation caused a loss of Rs 59,274 crore; and the new GST rationalisation regime led to a direct loss of Rs 9,000 crore, among others.
"In total, the direct loss to the people of Karnataka due to the BJP’s brazen fiscal injustice is Rs 1,97,257 crore, almost Rs 2 lakh crore. Will the BJP leaders answer before seeking votes in Davanagere South and Bagalkot?" he asked.
Alleging the BJP's conspiracy to block agrarian, irrigation, defence, and infrastructure projects in the state, Surjewala claimed it is "an act of revenge" against Kannadigas.
Citing issues concerning various irrigation and drinking water projects pending before the Centre—like the Upper Bhadra River project, Mahadayi (Kalasa-Banduri) project, Yettinahole drinking water project, and Mekedatu irrigation & drinking water project—he said, "BJP leaders of Karnataka, including the union ministers of BJP and JDS, neither have the guts to question the PM nor utter a word seeking justice for Kannadigas."
The AICC general secretary said Karnataka has been denied a defence corridor by the BJP government at the Centre despite contributing 67 per cent of India's aerospace and defence manufacturing.
Karnataka has also been deliberately denied approval for DPR clearance for a "plastic park" in Mangaluru by the union government, he said.
Along with their "sinister silence" on the Modi government's injustice, the Karnataka BJP leaders continue to oppose the five Congress guarantees. Surjewala said that through these schemes, the Congress government has transferred Rs 1.31 lakh crore to Kannadigas. "This makes their patent hatred towards Kannadigas apparent," he alleged.
