Baramati, April 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) NCP (SP) working president and MP Supriya Sule on Tuesday launched a firm defence of the Congress party’s historical legacy, issuing a sharp rebuttal to the remarks by NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader Parth Pawar that the party’s decision to contest the Baramati by-election marked the beginning of its “downfall”.
Her comments came after Parth Pawar, the newly elected Rajya Sabha MP and son of late former deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, claimed that Congress’s decision to field a candidate against Sunetra Pawar in the Baramati by-election signaled the beginning of the party's "downfall".
Addressing the media, Sule highlighted that the freedom India enjoys today is a direct result of the Congress party's struggle against British rule. "We have all witnessed the Congress party closely. I have contested many elections alongside them and have been elected with their votes and blessings. Whether it is Ajit Dada, myself, or Sharad Pawar Saheb -- who spent many years within the party -- we have all been raised in the school of Congress thought," she remarked.
She credited the Congress for its role in the freedom movement as well as for key national initiatives, including economic reforms and social governance. “The Congress party was associated with the Quit India movement and the struggle for a free nation, and the transformative policies were introduced by former Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. Besides, Congress was credited with initiatives ranging from women's reservation to the strengthening of local governance (Sarpanch system),” she noted.
When asked about Parth Pawar's comments, veteran leader Sharad Pawar did not mince words, suggesting a lack of political experience. "In politics, making statements on important decisions requires a certain level of maturity. I cannot comment today on how much of that is present," the senior Pawar stated.
Responding to her father’s critique, Sule said, "Pawar Saheb is senior to me in merit, age, and relationship. My values dictate that when elders speak, I do not comment further. As for advising Parth, family advice is given at home, not on news channels.”
While defending the Congress, Sule acknowledged that in a democracy, everyone has the right to express their opinion. However, she redirected the accountability for Parth's statement back to his own faction. “The claim that the 'downfall' of Congress has begun is a statement from their MP. Therefore, you should pose these questions to the Ajit Pawar group and ask them what their official stand is," she said.
Reflecting on the recent unopposed election of Sharad Pawar to the Rajya Sabha, Sule praised the "culture of Maharashtra". She thanked the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and even the opposition (BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena) for showing maturity.
"The opposition is not our enemy. There should be differences of opinion, but not bitterness of heart (matbhed asave, manbhed asu naye). This is the legacy of the late Yashwantrao Chavan," she said, adding that Congress’s decision to field a candidate in the by-election is a standard democratic process and should not be viewed as a mistake.
Source: IANS
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