‘We are one, but divided ideologically’: Sharad Pawar breaks silence on grandnephew’s land deal row; dist

‘We are one but …’: Sharad Pawar breaks silence on grandnephew’s land deal row NEW DELHI: NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday addressed the controversy surrounding his grandnephew Parth Pawar’s alleged involvement in a Pune land deal, saying, “as a family we are one, but divided ideologically.”“As a family, we (Pawars) are one, but we are divided ideologically. One of my grandnephews contested against Ajit Pawar, and Ajit Pawar’s wife contested against my daughter,” Pawar told reporters, emphasising the separation between administration, politics, and family.The remarks come amid a political uproar over the alleged illegal sale of around 40 acres of government land in Pune’s Mundhwa area, valued at approximately Rs 1,800 crore. Opposition parties have accused a company linked to deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth, of acquiring the land for just Rs 300 crore, allegedly with a stamp duty waiver. Ajit Pawar has denied any involvement in the transaction.Further supporting Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s call for an investigation, Sharad Pawar said he was in favour of a transparent probe. “The chief minister has said publicly that the matter is serious. So he should conduct a probe and put the facts before society,” he said.Fadnavis earlier said that FIRs had been filed against the signatories and vendors involved in the deal. “Those found guilty in the probe will be booked. Action is being taken as per the law,” he said in Gadchiroli.When asked whether Ajit Pawar was being politically targeted by allies within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the veteran leader said, “I wouldn’t know.”Pawar also appeared to distance himself from his daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule’s remarks defending Parth. Sule had earlier said she did not believe Parth “would do anything wrong.” Responding to that, Pawar said, “This could be her view.”Looking ahead, the NCP (SP) chief said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies would meet to finalise their strategy for the upcoming local body elections. “We (NCP-SP) are meeting tomorrow to decide our strategy and consider inducting new partners,” he said, hinting at possible coordination with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.“If a good alternative emerges through consensus in MVA, the Congress should not take an extreme stance on the MNS and should think about it,” he added.Pawar also criticised the state government for neglecting farmers affected by unseasonal rains, calling its loan waiver announcement “deceptive”.He further reminded the government of Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy of protecting farmers, saying, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s kingdom comprised hardworking people and farmers. Shivaji Maharaj always took care of farmers. However, this is not happening now.”“The help announced by the government has not yet reached many farmers. The loan waiver announcement seems like a fraud,” he added.