Pune: Ajit Pawar Responds to RSS Criticism: “Everyone Has the Right to Speech in a Democracy”
Pune, 14th June 2024: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has made some harsh criticisms against the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar. In an RSS weekly publication ‘Organiser’. They wrote that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) performed poorly in the Lok Sabha Elections due to unnecessary politics. They also stated that by aligning with Ajit Pawar, the BJP diminished its value. This has sparked political controversy, and Ajit Pawar has responded to the criticism.
Ajit Pawar was in Pune for a planning meeting of Ashadi Ekadashi. After the meeting, Pawar interacted with the media. When asked about the RSS’s criticism, Pawar replied that he didn’t want to say much about it and that everyone has the right to speech in a democracy.
Ajit Pawar said, “I don’t want to speak on this. After the elections conclude, everyone keeps giving their opinions. In a democracy, everyone has the right to express their opinion or role. I only want to focus on development issues. I focus on how important work will be executed. In the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, I attempt to go with new hope.”
On the rumours that Chhagan Bhujbal is upset due to not securing a Rajya Sabha nomination, Pawar said, “This is a complete lie. Bhujbal is not sad; he told me yesterday. Still, some are trying to spread news like this. There is no point in it.”
What was the RSS’s criticism?
In the RSS weekly publication ‘Organiser’, longstanding member Ratan Sharda wrote an article intended as a wake-up call for the BJP. In that article, it was said that the Lok Sabha elections provided a reality check to BJP leaders and activists who were overconfident due to PM Narendra Modi’s charisma.
Sharda also wrote that the BJP was affected by unnecessary politics. He stated, “Some things could’ve been avoided in Maharashtra. For example, the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena had a majority, yet they included Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This shocked many BJP supporters who opposed the ideology of the Congress. Due to this single reason, the BJP diminished its value.”
