Sena (UBT) slams Pawar for Shinde honour

Simmering tensions in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) flared again on Wednesday, when the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) criticised NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, the architect of the MVA, for felicitating a "traitor".

- Yogesh Naik

MUMBAI:

The remark comes a day after Pawar felicitated deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde at a public function in New Delhi, where the display of warmth between the two leaders, despite being political adversaries, was hard to miss. Both Pawar and Shinde showered praise on each other, leaving Sena (UBT) leaders furious.

Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut called Shinde a traitor for splitting the Shiv Sena and pulling down the MVA government in 2022. He also called the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan being held in Delhi under the guidance Pawar "political brokering".

Shinde was felicitated with an award at an event organised by Sarhad, an NGO, in the run-up to the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, an annual literary event. Pawar heads the reception committee set up by the organisers of the event, which is being held in Delhi after 70 years, on February 21 to 23. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the three-day literary meet.

"We too understand politics but certain things must be avoided. We are hurt by this. Pawar should not have felicitated a traitor such as Shinde," Raut said, also referring to the event as "nothing but political brokering".

Shinde was felicitated with an award named after Mahadji Shinde, an 18th century general who played a crucial role in establishing the Maratha empire in North India. The camaraderie between Shinde and Pawar was evident, even as the two leaders generously praised each other.

"In recent years, Eknath Shinde is known as a leader who has good knowledge about urban issues. Shinde has given direction to civic governance in Thane and also the state government. He did not harbour any animosity towards the opposition and solved problems of people," said Pawar.