5 days ago
Nitesh Rane speaking as per instructions of his party seniors: Rohit Pawar comments on allegation that he was ‘ready to join BJP in 2019'
Pune: Responding to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister Nitesh Rane's claim that "Rohit Pawar was willing to join BJP in 2019", the NCP (SP) functionary and MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed constituency on Sunday said, "He (Rane) is speaking as per the instructions of his party seniors.
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Rohit Pawar was interacting with the media on the sidelines of a visit to a party worker's office in Pune city. On Rane's comment, he further said, "When Rane was with Congress, he used to speak very aggressively. He would go before people with progressive thoughts. But after going to BJP, he is toeing the line of his higher-ups. He is now continuously trying to get a good position in the party."
He added, "The Rane family members should speak after they look at their own past of jumping between parties."
The MLA commented on various political developments during the interaction. On
(MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's visit to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Pawar said it was a family visit, and there is no need to take political inferences from it. "If the two brothers are coming together, it is a good sign as per the culture of Maharashtra," he said.
Asked if he feels voices of dissent are stifled, Pawar alleged that investigating authorities, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), had taken action against him when he tried to speak against the ruling govt in rallies like the Yuva Sangharsh Yatra. He added that action was initiated against him even when he posted a video of state agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate on social media.
Pawar said cabinet minister Hasan Mushrif's recent statement, wherein he reportedly spoke about offering rewards to farmers if he became the chief minister, is "a commentary on state govt's ignorance towards farmers' issues".
