Ajit Pawar is lying: Sharad Pawar on visit to Gautam Adani-Amit Shah

Mumbai: NCP (AP) President Ajit Pawar dropped a bombshell saying that a meeting was held after the State Assembly poll results in 2019 at Gautam Adani’s residence involving Amit Shah, Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel and Devendra Fadnavis. Ajit Pawar claimed that he was also present at the meeting.

This gave rise to discussions in political circles. In this backdrop, Sharad Pawar clarified to the media and said, “Was the BJP-NCP government formed? Had we held any such meeting, then our government could have been formed. Did any such thing happen? Then why raise such questions?

“Not only Gautam Adani but I also visited many other industrialists, including Ratan Tata, Kirloskar. I pay a visit to them even today. Adani has invested huge money in Maharashtra. He is planning to launch more such projects in the State. He started projects in Gondia-Bhandara districts when I was the Chief Minister. I inaugurated them.

“He developed coal mines in that area. He took interest in it. The Central government awarded him that project. There was no BJP government then. He completed the work. I personally visited Gondia during his programmes there. Therefore, it is essential, as the representative of the State, to speed up work being done by industrialists in the State. One has to maintain a positive dialogue with them.

“Not a single detail revealed by Ajit Pawar is true. I would never say that central ministers and industrialists do not meet, except during the poll period. Ajit Pawar might have accompanied me during some such visits. I might have asked him to go along to make him aware of such interactions.

“I met the Union Home Minister not just once but thrice, along with a delegation. I met him at his residence with regard to sugarcane farmers’ issues. After all, I am an MP and work for the people.

“I am supposed to solve issues related to my constituency and the State. In this connection, I need to have cordial relations with ministers. It is not appropriate to allege a conspiracy if one meets or speaks with the Union Minister.”