Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday, 10 June launched a sweeping attack on the NDA-led Union government during his party's 27th Foundation Day address in Mumbai, challenging comparisons between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and issuing a firm ultimatum over the deepening agrarian crisis in Maharashtra.

Pawar on the Modi-Nehru Comparison

Pawar directly contested the narrative, circulated by BJP supporters, that equates Modi's tenure with Nehru's on the basis of days served in office. While acknowledging that Modi's long stint as Prime Minister carries its own significance, Pawar argued that the two leaders belong to entirely different chapters of Indian history.

He reminded the audience that Nehru spent years in prison under Mahatma Gandhi's leadership during the freedom struggle — a context that, in Pawar's view, places Nehru in a different historical category altogether. 'The Prime Minister's Office is an institutional position, and it is the duty of every Indian to maintain its dignity,' he said, adding that while the Opposition would contest policy, it would not disrespect the post itself.

Pawar also reiterated that the sacrifices of the Nehru-Gandhi family cannot be erased by political comparisons, noting that both former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were assassinated amid internal militancy.

Operation Blue Star Remarks and Historical Distortions

Pawar sharply reprimanded Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan for what he described as a 'ridiculous' speech at a Sikh community event in Punjab regarding Operation Blue Star. The central Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has since distanced itself from Mahajan's remarks, calling them his personal opinion.

'A Minister representing Maharashtra goes there and propagates that a mass slaughter of Sikhs was orchestrated by people carrying Congress ideology. This is highly inappropriate,' Pawar said. He warned that distorting history for political gain severely harms national unity, adding: 'Certain things did happen in the past. Some elements misdirected the youth… which led to numerous assassinations, including General Vaidya. We must move past these tragedies.'

He credited Indira Gandhi with elevating India's global stature and, in his words, 'taught Pakistan a lesson, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.'

Agrarian Crisis: An Ultimatum to Maharashtra

Turning to rural distress, Pawar painted a bleak picture of Maharashtra's agricultural sector, accusing the state government of indifference toward farmers. He cited reports of farmers sleeping outside fertiliser shops overnight due to acute shortages and long queues, and referenced a fresh report documenting a sharp spike in farmer suicides over a single eight-day period.

Pawar issued an 8 to 10-day ultimatum to the Maharashtra administration to act on farmers' grievances. 'If needed, the NCP will hit the streets. If they refuse to accept our demands, we will launch an all-out struggle,' he warned. He also announced that NCP-SP leadership would convene collectively to address the concerns of the marginalised.

Foreign Policy Concerns

In the closing segment of his address, Pawar raised concerns over what he described as a drift in India's traditionally independent foreign policy. He noted that India has historically stood by nations facing injustice during international conflicts, and argued that this principle is no longer being effectively maintained — citing the ongoing situation involving Iran as a case in point.

Party Discipline and the Road Ahead

Pawar also took a light-hearted dig at the rival NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, commenting on the massive front-page advertisements taken out for the Foundation Day. He said he had never pursued such expenditure during his own leadership, but welcomed the large turnout of party workers. 'Whether we are in power or not, you have never worried about it,' he told the cadre, closing with a call to action: 'The NCP will not sit quietly; we must prove our mettle through sheer hard work and impactful action on the ground.'