Two Months Later: Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Fuels Political Tensions as Family Seeks Clarity
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Mumbai, March 28 (NationPress) Two months have passed since the tragic demise of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash close to Baramati. On Saturday, leaders from the NCP-SP coalition and family members of the late NCP stalwart gathered to pay their respects, even as the demand for a thorough investigation continues to escalate political unease.
NCP-SP Working President Supriya Sule and party MLA Rohit Pawar expressed their feelings on the social media platform X, commemorating the legacy of the veteran leader.
Sule, who is Ajit Pawar's cousin, posted on X, stating, "It has been two months since our dear Ajit Dada, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, departed from us. It feels as if he is still here with us. We miss you dearly, Dada."
Rohit Pawar, Ajit Pawar's nephew, also took to X, sharing, "Two months filled with memories... this love and struggle will endure until the end," including the hashtag #JusticeForAjitDada, emphasizing his plea for a comprehensive inquiry into the air crash.
Maharashtra NCP Chief Sunil Tatkare shared a video message, reminiscing about his bond with Ajit Pawar and paying tribute to the departed leader.
Ajit Pawar's son, Jay Pawar, visited his memorial at Vidya Pratisthan in Baramati to honor his father.
The political landscape following the crash has been fraught with tension, as Rohit Pawar has consistently alleged that there may have been "foul play" involved.
Sule has reiterated these concerns, recently bringing them to light in the Lok Sabha.
In response to these allegations during a State Assembly session, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remarked, "While my perspective on this issue may differ from yours, it is not so simple that we would ignore a conspiracy if it were involved in Ajit Dada's case. We will uncover the truth, even if it necessitates 'unearthing the corpse' (a metaphor for a relentless investigation). I support your efforts, but don't presume that others are less affected by this loss than you are."
A jurisdictional dispute has also surfaced regarding the investigation.
Fadnavis criticized the filing of an FIR in Karnataka, labeling it as 'illegal'.
"Rohit Pawar met with Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who likely suggested filing an FIR in Karnataka," the Maharashtra Chief Minister stated.
"Karnataka lacks the jurisdiction to file a 'Zero FIR' in this case. A Zero FIR is only valid when the victim cannot file one; Karnataka does not possess the legal authority in this matter," Fadnavis added.
He asserted that the Maharashtra government is adhering to due process and criticized the Opposition for pursuing legal avenues outside the state.
During the Lok Sabha session on Friday, Sule demanded a time-sensitive inquiry into the crash during Question Hour.
"If a former Deputy Chief Minister cannot attain justice, what hope is there for the rest of us?" she questioned, lamenting the delay in formally registering an FIR.
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