Sharad Pawar shuns ageist remarks, ‘I am not old, I can still set some people straight…’ – Gudstory

Pawar was speaking at a bullock cart race event organized on the occasion of his birthday in Haveli taluka in rural part of Pune.

Addressing the crowd, Sharad Pawar said, “I have a complaint against you people.” You people often comment on my age that I am 84 years old, I am 83 years old, what have you people seen in me till now? I have become old. I still have a lot of strength. “I can set some people straight.”

Pawar also talked about the bullock cart racing competition, saying that if the decision is taken in a planned manner, it can be included in the Olympics.

“This event is a competition of speed, power and determination. If planned decisions are taken, I am confident that this event can be brought at par with many other sporting events in the world, and you (bullock cart racing organisers) can do so. There are other jobs too,” he said.

His statement is seen as a clear rebuttal to his opponents, who have often targeted him over his age and called for his retirement from politics.

It is noteworthy that his nephew Ajit Pawar had made similar comments earlier also.

On July 5, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had taunted Sharad Pawar and said that IAS officers retire at 60 years, BJP leaders retire at 75 years and you are 83 years old, are you not going to stop?

“You portrayed me as a villain in front of everyone. I still have deep respect for him (Sharad Pawar)…but you tell me, IAS officers retire at the age of 60…even ​​That even in politics – BJP leaders retire at the age of 75. You can see the example of LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi… This gives a chance to the new generation to move forward…” Ajit Pawar he said.

“You (Sharad Pawar) give us your blessings… The other day, he went to the YB Chavan memorial… I have also been there… But you are 83 years old, are you not going to stop?… We Give your blessings and we will pray that you live a long life,” Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said while addressing party MLAs and other workers in Bandra on July 5.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on his 83rd birthday on December 12.

PM Narendra Modi said on social media platform ‘X’, “My best wishes to Shri Sharad Pawar ji on his birthday. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life.”

Pawar founded NCP in 1999. He became an MLA for the first time at the young age of 27, before becoming the state’s youngest Chief Minister in 1978 at the age of 38. He has also been the Chief Minister of Maharashtra four times as Defense Minister. He was the Agriculture Minister in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He was the first and former president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which was founded in 1999 after its split from the Indian National Congress.

After leaving Congress, Sharad Pawar founded NCP. He, Tariq Anwar and PA Sangma rebelled in the Congress Working Committee over the issue of Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin, leading to a split in the party. NCP soon gained recognition as a national party after establishing its presence in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Meghalaya and Manipur. However, it lost this tag this year.

Pawar is from rural Maharashtra and is sometimes referred to as ‘Chanakya’ in political circles. He played a key role in the formation of Maha Vikas Aghadi, an alliance between Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP.

Elections are to be held in Maharashtra next year. The Mahavikas Aghadi of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, which came to power in the state after Eknath Shinde rebelled and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with Shiv Sena MLAs, broke down.

Due to this, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction)-BJP government was formed in the state.

A year later, NCP’s Ajit Pawar rebelled against his party chief and joined hands with the BJP along with some of his party colleagues.

The state is now run by the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. (ANI)

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Published: 18 Dec 2023, 07:16 am IST