Pawar slams PM for focusing too much on Assembly polls

NCP chief says there is nothing wrong in Modi holding rallies in Maharashtra for BJP's better performance but the timing is wrong

Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, in a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said it is a matter of serious concern that Modi’s priority is Maharashtra polls and not the repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan in border areas.

Pawar told Business Standard, “It is surprising that Modi is focusing on the BJP winning more seats when cross-border attacks from Pakistan are rising...”

It is ironical that Modi has no time to appoint a full-time defence minister for the country. Arun Jaitley is holding additional charge of defence ministry, along with finance and corporate affairs. I have no complaint about Jaitley; he is quite capable and efficient.”

Pawar said 17 attacks have taken place so far at the border area. “Yesterday (Tuesday) five civilians were killed, while army jawan Akshay Godbole, from Parbhani in Maharashtra, was killed in a land mine blast. When Pakistan is indulging in these attacks, Modi is busy addressing poll rallies in Maharashtra,” he said.

Pawar said there was nothing wrong in Modi holding rallies in the state for BJP’s success in the polls, but the timing is important. “I have seen former prime ministers, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, A B Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, addressing four to five poll rallies in Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad and Nashik. They used to give a broad message. But, Modi is the first prime minister to visit villages and towns to address rallies,” Pawar said.

Pawar reiterated that Modi's preference for campaigning for state Assembly polls instead of dealing with cross-border attacks is a matter of concern.