Friends in the frame

What's behind the Sharad Pawar-Gautam Adani meeting?

- DNYANESH JATHAR

HARD WORKING, SIMPLE and down to earth.

That is how former Union minister and NCP founder Sharad Pawar describes industrialist Gautam Adani in his 2015 autobiography Lok Majhe Sangati (People, My Companions). The Maratha strongman has never shied away from supporting Adani, even when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack following the Hindenburg report allegations against the Adani Group. He also opposed the Congress's demand for a joint parliamentary committee inquiry, and instead favoured a probe by the Supreme Court. He told a news channel that Adani was being targeted.

So Pawar inaugurating an industrial plant with Adani in Ahmedabad on September 23 did not come as a surprise for many. Pawar had no qualms posing for a photograph with Adani. He is also learnt to have visited Adani's residence and office. Nonetheless, their meeting did raise eyebrows, especially in the Congress that is clearly not comfortable with Pawar's close ties with Adani.

But Pawar's lieutenants make light of the meeting. "Pawar saheb was called to inaugurate the plant, so he went there. There is nothing more to it," said NCP Maharashtra president Jayant Patil. "Pawar has excellent personal relations with not just Adani but most of the industry captains."