Ajit Pawar Restate Demand For Judicial Inquiry Into Kharghar Sunstroke Deaths

Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Friday reiterated his demand for a judicial inquiry into the deaths of people during or after the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony and said they are seeking information about the incident, including the “actual” number of fatalities, through the Right to Information Act.

Addressing a press conference here, Pawar also responded to a query on Thursday’s meeting between industrialist Gautam Adani and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying the two know each other and there is nothing wrong if two such persons meet. He said he had no idea about the reason behind the meeting.

At least 14 persons, including 10 women, died after suffering from sunstroke during the government-sponsored Maharashtra Bhushan award event at Kharghar neighbouring Mumbai on Sunday.

Ajit Pawar said he has written to Governor Ramesh Bais urging him to initiate a judicial probe.

“We have not yet received the correct numbers (death toll). We know the numbers announced by the state government. There are people who are talking about reasons like sunstroke, lack of food, etc. in a hush-hush manner,” he said.