Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s advice to national opposition- ‘Focus on Pawar’

Mumbai (IANS) | Jumping into the controversy generated by Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar over the Adani Group issue, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday called upon the national opposition to listen to the former Union minister’s advice on the matter. Ahead of his much-hyped visit to Ayodhya, Shinde on Friday referred to Pawar’s comments on a private television channel, saying US short-seller Hindenburg Research’s report on the Adani group appeared to be a ‘targeted attack’ on the central government .

Shinde said in Thane on Saturday – Congress has started an agitation demanding an explanation of Rs 20,000 crore from the Adani group. Even (former CM) Uddhav Thackeray has repeatedly spoken on this issue. Now, Sharad Pawar has commented. So those who are protesting (against Adani) should pay attention to his comments.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde said his party has been saying for a long time that the opposition parties are not on one agenda. Hegde said, “Now Sharad Pawar’s statement proves this. And he clearly says that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand for an inquiry by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is not justified.”

However, Maharashtra unit Congress president Nana Patole and former chief minister Ashok Chavan reiterated the party’s stand of nothing less than a JPC probe demanded by Rahul Gandhi. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said Pawar’s statement was nothing new and dismissed speculation that it would lead to the collapse of the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance here.

–IANS