Maharashtra polls: Only Pulwama like attack can change sentiments says Pawar
Aurangabad, Sep 21: There is a lot of resentment against the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, and only a Pulwama-like incident can change this sentiment ahead of the elections, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said.
Pawar
was
addressing
a
press
conference
here
after
attending
a
party
workers' meet.
"There
was
anger
against
the
Narendra
Modi
government
before
2019
Lok
Sabha
polls.
But
Pulwama
attack
changed
the
entire
situation,"
Pawar
said.
Forty paramilitary personnel were killed in the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in February this year, prompting the Indian government to launch airstrikes against a terror base at Balakot inside Pakistan's territory.
The
airstrikes
are
considered
to
have
boosted
the
Modi
government's
popularity.
Pawar
said
he
was
seeing
anger
about
the
state
government
before
the
next
month's
assembly
polls.
Pawar's Pakistan comment distorted by Modi says NCP
"Only another Pulwama attack-like situation can change people's mind," the former defence minister said.
"We are trying to bring secular forces together (for polls). Congress and NCP have come together. We are trying to take Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, Samajwadi Party and other smaller parties with us," Pawar said.
He also said that the NCP was willing to join hands with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, but the Congress was not ready for that.
Talking about exodus of leaders from his party, Pawar said these leaders said they were joining the ruling BJP or Shiv Sena to ensure development of their constituencies.
"But during my career of 52 years, I was not in power for a long time. Yet it did not hamper the development of Baramati (his former constituency)," he said.
Sharad Pawar slams BJP, says 'govt spreading lies about Pakistan for political gains'
"During Modi government's tenure people learnt about (existence of) enquiry agencies like ED and CBI. I have worked with many prime ministers, but such misuse (of agencies) was not seen earlier," Pawar added.
On the economic slowdown, Pawar said there should be a policy decision to attract investment, but no such step is being taken.