Even as members of the Pawar family met in Baramati on Wednesday to discuss a plan to set up a grand memorial in honor of Ajit Pawar, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said they would talk about the plane crash only after February 9.
“Only after February 9 will we talk about the plane crash… What happened on the plane? How did it happen? This can only be spoken clearly after February. We are reviewing the information we have received… After such an incident, it is vital that the truth comes out. As the Pawar family and as citizens of Maharashtra, we hope that the doubts and unanswered questions in people’s minds get proper answers,” Rohit Pawar told reporters in Baramati after the meeting.
Besides Sharad Pawar, his wife Pratibha Pawar, Shriniwas Pawar, Rohit Pawar, Ranjit Pawar, Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar were present at the meeting held at Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati. The trustees of the pratishthan were also present. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar was not present in the meeting as she will only leave her house after the 13th day of Ajit Pawar’s death, NCP sources said. This was the second meeting of the Pawar family in the last two days to discuss the plan to establish the memorial.
“No political issue was discussed in the meeting… The incident occurred while Ajitdada was preparing to campaign. Today is the last day of campaigning. Ajitdada was a great leader; people should cooperate in the constituencies where their candidates are contesting,” Rohit Pawar said.
Rohit also talked about how Sharad Pawar always stood up when the family faced a difficult situation. “He (Sharad Pawar) has always been the focal point of our family. His work from political and social perspectives is immense. Whenever the family faced difficulties, Pawar saheb stood firmly by our side. Ajitdada also stood by the family when there was a crisis. Today, in the absence of Ajitdada, we continue to receive the same guidance from Pawar Saheb as before. These are personal and social matters, and there is no politics involved in them.”
Rohit Pawar said: “We all feel that there should be a big memorial in Ajitdada’s name. Discussions were held about a place where people can visit and pay their respects. Given Kaka’s (Ajit Pawar) 35-40 years of political work, there is a desire from the public and the family for a high-quality museum to be built. It was discussed whether it should be in Baramati town or somewhere else. The family will take an appropriate decision in the coming days and the owners/trustees of the social institutions involved, after which an announcement will be made.”
Reacting to the meeting, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said, “What was wrong with Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar meeting Sharad Pawar? There is nothing wrong with Parth and Jay meeting his grandfather. I don’t want to talk about those who are drawing different conclusions. If the two met Sharad Pawar, then it is appropriate. They are from the same family and no politics should be attached to it.”
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The NCP on Wednesday released a final video message from Ajit Pawar to voters on the zilla Parisad. The video was recorded a few days before his death. “I am not just a man of words, but a man of action,” he says in the video.
Greeting voters with folded hands, Ajit Pawar, in the video, says, “Brothers and sisters Namaskar voters. It is time to decide who shapes the holistic growth of our village, taluka and district. Zilla Parishad is the crucial key to rural progress… Water, roads, education, health, agriculture and jobs are all linked to it.”
Seeking voters’ support, Ajit said in the video: “Exercise your right to vote to elect clean, efficient candidates and people-first governance. I will not let your trust in us waver. I will not let development funds dry up. That is my promise.”
In the end, Ajit Pawar urges voters to vote in favor of the party’s symbol, the Clock.
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Voting for the ZP elections will take place on February 7 and counting on February 9.