Ajit Pawar slams media over speculation about his 'absence', says he was 'unwell'

Pawar's cancellation of programmes and the fact that he was unreachable on phone gave rise to speculation about his political future

Amid reports that he had gone incommunicado, leading to political speculation, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar said that he was unreachable as he was feeling under the weather.

Pawar, the nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, is currently the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and a former Deputy Chief Minister.

However, Pawar on Saturday vehemently denied political speculations and lashed out at the media.

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“It pained me when I read unsubstantiated news reports about me being unreachable. I was at home due to ill health. I was not unreachable,” the junior Pawar said, adding that he cancelled or rescheduled Friday’s engagements because of poor health.

“Over the past few days, I have travelled across Maharashtra and have not got enough rest…I was not keeping well and hence was taking rest,” he said.

“I am human and might face health issues. The media must stop speculating during such times and verify before publishing any news. We are public figures, but it is wrong to defame us in this manner," he added.