Ajit Pawar apologises; BJP asks him to resign

Ajit's uncle Sharad Pawar also apologised for his remarks saying they were "unwanted"

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday apologised in the Maharashtra Assembly for his insensitive remarks on drought and load-shedding over which both Houses witnessed uproarious scenes with the Opposition gunning for him.     

Ajit’s uncle and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar also apologised for his remarks saying they were “unwanted”. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  state unit demanded his resignation.     

Ajit’s crass humour at a public meeting on Saturday had the Opposition up in arms against him in the Legislative Assembly and Council, forcing him to issue a personal clarification apologising for his remarks.     

“My comments on Saturday were not directed towards drought-affected people, and I had no intention to hurt anybody’s sentiments. I hope my comments will not affect drought relief measures which will continue vigorously,” he said in the Assembly.

Facing the heat, Ajit admitted he should have chosen his words carefully. “The statement made by me on Saturday, April 6, 2013, during a programme was not intended towards the drought- affected people. Also, it was never my intention to hurt anybody’s sentiments,” Pawar told the Legislative Council where too he came under severe attack by the Opposition.     

“It is true that I should have spoken responsibly,” said Pawar, adding since the sentiments of the people and legislators had been hurt, “I apologise to all”.     

“We are committed to providing water to the drought- affected people, fodder for the cattle and fee-waiver for the students,” he said, as the furious Opposition disrupted the proceedings.

“If there is no water in the dam.... Should we urinate into it?” he had said in an insensitive comment at a function at Indapur near Pune that kicked up a controversy in the state reeling under severe drought. The NCP leader followed it up with another remark poking fun at load-shedding in the state, saying, “I have noticed that more children are being born since the lights go off at night. There is no other work left then.”

Regretting the remarks made by his nephew, Sharad Pawar said, “I duly apologise on the behalf of Deputy CM of Maharashtra for the unwanted comments that he had made,” he said on micro-blogging site Twitter.     

In Delhi, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedekar strongly condemned Ajit’s remarks, saying it was unbecoming for the Deputy CM to have made them when the state is reeling under drought.

House adjourned
Amid loud protests by Opposition members, the state Assembly had to be adjourned five times before adjourning for the day. The state council also saw seven adjournments before being adjourned for the day.

The Budgetary demands for water resources, rural development, water conservation, water supply and cleanliness and minority welfare were passed amid uproar.

In the Upper House, Opposition members demanded a debate on the issue. Home Minister R R Patil opposed the demand saying Ajit had already apologised.