After protests, BJP leader withdraws insults against Sharad

Following loud protests and sharp criticism from various quarters, chastised BJP MLC Sadabhau Khot on Thursday expressed regret and retracted his derogatory remarks against NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.

Khota’s regret came a day after he spoke about Pawar’s illness and the surgeries the latter had undergone in the past in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at an election rally.

“Sharad Pawar says he wants to change the face of Maharashtra… Does he want Maharashtra to be like his own face?” asked Khot, speaking at a campaign rally.

Khota’s remarks against Sir Pawar created such a public outcry that NCP (SP) supporters staged protests against Khota and the BJP in Pune and other places, demanding an unconditional apology from him.

Hitting out at Khot for his remarks against the NCP(SP) chief, Shiv Sena MP (UBT) Sanjay Raut dubbed the BJP MLC as “Fadnavis’s poodle”.

“The people of Maharashtra are watching and will teach the BJP a befitting lesson for the insults given to a senior leader like Sharad Pawar, whom even Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers a ‘mentor,'” Raut said.

Taking serious exception to Khota’s statement, State NCP chief Jayant Patil said the BJP MLC’s remarks reflected the “perverted mentality” of the BJP-MahaYuti leaders.

Not to be outdone, even NCP (AP) chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, whose party is a member of the ruling MahaYuti, condemned Khota’s remarks against the NCP (SP) chief, which were “not in keeping with the culture of Maharashtra.”

Ajitdada, as Ajit Pawar is known in political circles in the state, called Khot and reassured him.

He warned Khot to be careful in his choice of words and not to allow criticism “below the belt” in his address.

“The first Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the late Y.B. Chavan taught us not to use uncivil language against political rivals. You can make accusations and counter-accusations, but don’t make personal attacks like Hoth did.

I told him that his remarks were unacceptable and it was wrong to make such personal attacks on a senior leader like Pawarsaheb,” Ajitdada said.

Later, speaking to the media, an embarrassed Khot said: “I regret making those remarks.

I withdraw my comments, and this will never happen again.”