Pawar 'wineds' down

Whether it is the Indian Premier League, farmers’ suicides, rotting foodgrain or inflation, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is rarely far from controversy. The latest has been outrage by critics and social leaders for Pawar championing the cause of the wine industry. So, at a grape-growers’ conference on Sunday in Pune, Pawar clarified that he would not speak about wine because he is being blamed for his attempt to convert “Maharashtra into Madyarashtra” (a state of liquor). Instead, he said he has delegated responsibility: issues that wineries and grape growers from Nashik face would be handled by Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, and his nephew and Irrigation Minister Ajit Pawar will do the same for Baramati.