Countering his estranged cousin and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule's jibe that even the milkman too gets up early, NCP National President and Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar said on Monday that he never said the milkman gets up in the afternoon, noting he will continue to focus on development instead of engaging in a war of words.
Obstacles- I am well aware of it, though I am not an engineer. So, I go early in the morning and see the works that are going on. I went in the morning and visited the Rajkot Fort where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue collapsed. On the work in development and party members too should avoid replying to the criticism in politics," said Pawar during his speech in the rally organised at Baramati to promote the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
At the NCP (SP) rally two days ago, Sule had attacked Ajit Pawar without taking his name over the latter's continuous statements that he gets up early and starts working.
"Everybody is doing hard work, nobody does favours to anybody. Some people keep saying that they wake up early in the morning. Milkman too gets up early. What time you get up, is a problem of your wife. Because she has to make tea. Has NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar done such a speech till date?" she asked while targeting her estranged cousin Ajit Pawar.
However, Pawar today strongly defended his habit of waking up early and starting the day's work.
"We should avoid political criticism and talk only about development. Some people talk, let them talk, do you get holes in your body because of talking?" he asked.
He also asked the Baramatikars not to give importance to such criticism but to focus on development.
Pawar counted a host of developmental works that he carried out in Baramati and taunted that "Now all Pawars including Sharad Pawar, his daughter MP Supriya Sule and Pawar's grandnephew Yogendra Pawar are going house-to-house in Baramati ahead of the state Assembly election".
Without naming Supriya Sule, he said, "Ab to kuch log keh rahe hain ki Baramati mein Dada kisi aur raag par nach raha hai. Earlier, Pawar used to not go door-to-door that much. But now all the Pawars are making it a point to do door-to-door visits. For the last 25 to 30 years, nobody has come.
"Today I got an opportunity in the Cabinet. So a slew of decisions could be taken. A change is happening in Baramati now. There are 288 constituencies in the state. Among them, the highest amount of development funds was given here. I will draw the blueprint for Baramati soon. A cancer hospital is going to be built here and there are many plans to implement," Pawar added.
"Nobody should be accused of corruption. If the grand coalition (MahaYuti) government comes again, the ongoing plans will continue forever. How could the people who grew with a golden spoon know the value of Rs 1,500? (a monthly financial aid given to eligible women beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin scheme)," he said.
Against the backdrop of sexual abuse of two four-year-old girls in Badlapur's reputed school and other such incidents, Pawar said that the cases of violence against women were on the rise.
"Baramati has now become a hub of education. Many people come from outside to study here. Therefore, their safety is our responsibility. In Baramati, the police should have respectable authority. Any mischief against girls in Baramati will not be tolerated," he added.
Pawar asked the police to take stern action against those who indulge in crimes against girls and women irrespective of their party affiliations.
Read also | Supreme Court Recommends Mediation for Omar Abdullah and Estranged Wife
Read also| Saint or yogi can never be a slave of power, says Yogi Adityanath
