Pawar's remark on father new low in politics: Parrikar's son

Former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Monday described as "insensitive" and a "new low in Indian politics" NCP chief Sharad Pawar's remark that the late BJP leader quit his post at the Centre and returned to Goa because he did not agree with the Rafale deal.

In a strongly-worded letter addressed to Pawar, Utpal Parrikar termed Pawar's remark as another attempt to invoke his father's name to push "blatant falsehood for political gains".

He said the Parrikar family was saddened to read the remarks of Pawar, himself a former Defence Minister.

"This is yet another unfortunate and insensitive attempt to invoke my father's name to push blatant falsehood for political gains," Utpal Parrikar said.

Addressing reporters in Kolhapur on Saturday, Pawar had said, "The Rafale deal was not acceptable to Parrikar. He therefore quit as Defence minister and returned to Goa."