Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Credit: X/@BJP
Pune: A day after Union Minister Amit Shah claimed NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar had institutionalised corruption, a leader of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, which is an ally of the BJP, on Monday said such remarks were "inappropriate".
Addressing the BJP's state convention in Pune on Sunday, Shah had said, "If there is the biggest 'sargana' of corruption in Indian politics, it is Sharad Pawar. There is no confusion in my mind about this. I am saying it openly that Pawar has institutionalised corruption in the country." NCP leader from Bhosasri in Pimpri Chinchwad Vilas Lande said he had written to the Bharatiya Janata Party asking it to not make such remarks against the opposition stalwart.
"Making such remarks is not appropriate because Pawar saheb has been in national politics for last 60 years and there is not a dot of corruption on him," Lande said, adding that "BJP had to pay a price" after Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the term "bhatakti aatma" for Pawar during the Lok Sabha poll campaign.
"The BJP should correct its mistake by not speaking much about Sharad Pawar. If they continue to do so, then it would go against them in the upcoming state elections. I have written to BJP asking them not to speak against 84-year-old Pawar," Lande claimed.
Incidentally, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had responded with "no comments" when asked about Shah's comments against his uncle.
Meanwhile, BJP city unit president Dhiraj Ghate said his party will go to every ward with proof of allegations levelled against Pawar.