Burying the political acrimony they nursed during the campaign for the October 2014 Maharashtra Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared stage with NCP chief Sharad Pawar, had lunch with the latter and spelt out a new vocabulary of development, under which he said that the nation came first for them, more than the parties and ideologies they represented.
Notwithstanding Modi’s assertion that the political and ideological differences he had with Pawar would not come in the path of development, the bonhomie the two leaders shared, the praise that the Prime Minister heaped on the NCP chief and the disclosure he made that never a month had passed without his talking to the NCP chief “at least twice or thrice” sparked speculation about a possible realignment in the State.
At a time when the relations between the ruling BJP and the Shiv Sena have come under strain, the efforts by Modi and Pawar to cosy up to each other on the issue of development may not have any immediate fallout on the saffron alliance Government in the State, but will definitely send a message out to the somewhat aggressive Sena to behave itself.
Given that Modi’s impending visit to Pawar’s hometown of Baramati in Pune district had created quite a buzz, the NCP chief set tone for the function by seeking to quell any misgivings that the function had anything to do with politics.
Pawar --- who welcomed the Prime Minister at a function organised at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra for the inauguration of a Centre for Excellence for Vegetables and later addressed a farmers’ rally along with the PM --- recalled as to how Modi, as the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, had invited him to Anand four years ago to witness the progress made by farmers with the use of technology. He expressed happiness that the Prime Minister had agreed to visit Baramati now in his capacity as the Prime Minister to witness the immense development work done by farmers.
“We may fight in politics for two days. But for the rest 363 days, we should be devoted to development. We are always ready to support you in all your development initiatives,” Pawar told the Prime Minister at the rally.
During his visit to Pawar’s hometown of Baramati, Modi visited the Vidya Pratishthan, an educational institution run by the Pawars, inaugurated an auditorium named after Sharad Pawar’s elder brother Appa Saheb Pawar and visited the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), where he laid foundation stone for the Centre for Excellence for Vegetable Production.
After the KVK engagement, Modi headed to Pawar’s residence “Govindbaug” where the Maratha leader hosted him a Maharashtrian lunch in the presence of 50-odd dignitaries, including Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao.
Earlier, addressing the farmers rally, Modi picked up the thread left by Pawar in his speech. He sought to dispel the media speculation about his sharing the platform with Pawar.
“Today is a special day for the media. They would try to dig out what Modi had said earlier (about Pawar during the Assembly polls) and what he did say today. This is the beauty of democracy,” Modi said.
“Democracy works on two tracks. The first is of ‘vivad’ (controversy) and second is ‘samvad’ (communication). Democracy progresses on these two tracks. We are in politics and different parties with agenda, but for both of us the nation is above party. Yes, we are in politics, but for us the statesmanship is above politics,” Modi said.
“I do not understand why in country, even a meeting between the leaders of two different political parties makes big news. This kind meetings and process of communication should go on uninterrupted. For development, discussion is important,” he said.
Modi --- who had during his Assembly poll campaign dubbed the NCP as the Nationalist Corrupt Party and exhorted the people of Baramati to “free” themselves from the slavery of “Chacha-Bhatija” (Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar) --- heaped praise on the development initiatives taken by the Maratha leader and the experience that he had gained over the years.
Maintaining that as a person heading the Government, he had more responsibility than Pawar, Modi said: “As a person sitting in the Government, I have more responsibility, Sharadrao. That’s why it is incumbent on me to approach Sharadrao and seek his advice on issues. This is because Sharadrao is more experienced than me.”
Referring to Pawar’s statement about his having been invited to Gujarat four years ago, Modi said: “It is right, he congratulated me about what he had seen in Gujarat. The fact remained that the reason behind my showing the work done by farmers at Anand was that I wanted to know from him if there were shortfalls in the work done so that I can rectify things. My intention was to learn more from him as much as I could.”
In a disclosure made on the occasion, Modi said: “Very few may know that not a month passes without my talking to him two to three times.” Modi also recalled that when he was the Chief Minister, Pawar, as a senior Union Minister in the previous UPA Government, used to rise above narrow confines of party politics and help him in Central matters relating to Gujarat.
Earlier, in his speech, Pawar extended his wholehearted support to the Prime Minister vis-a-vis the development agenda of Maharashtra and farmers’ issues and sought his intervention for removing barriers on export of sugar and improving condition of dairy farmers.
“I am sure that your (PM’s) Government at the Centre will take firm steps to increase the export of sugar. Once we are able to sell more sugar, only then will the farmers be able to get rid of their difficulties,” Pawar said. Pawar also made a strong pitch for reservation to the Dhangar (shepherd) community along the lines of Scheduled Tribes.
“Dhangar community has long been facing problems. They have been demanding facilities that Adivasis get. The Maharashtra Government has recommended this to the Centre. We might be from different political parties with different agendas, but we will support all steps you take for their reservation,” the NCP chief said.