NCP supremo Sharad Pawar is set to be the chief guest at a significant event in Pune where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be conferred with the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award. Despite reports of both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) potentially aligning with the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra and the Centre, Pawar’s presence at the event has drawn attention.
Rohit Tilak, the great-grandson of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and vice president of the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust, confirmed that Sharad Pawar has accepted the invitation to preside over the event. Interestingly, Pawar revealed that he played a crucial role in securing the Prime Minister’s attendance for the function.
The award is being conferred on Prime Minister Modi in recognition of his exceptional leadership and his efforts in instilling a sense of patriotism among citizens.
However, this move by Pawar has faced criticism from opposition parties who accuse him of supporting the opposition alliance INDIA against the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections while simultaneously attending an event to honor PM Modi. Some leaders from the Congress party expressed their disappointment, stating that Pawar’s decision to attend as the chief guest at an event where Modi will be praised is not a good optics.
Despite the criticism, it is noteworthy that the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar will join hands with the Congress and social activists in showing a black flag to PM Modi during his visit to Pune. This protest is in response to the Prime Minister’s perceived silence on the issue of violence in Manipur.
The event in Pune, where PM Modi will be felicitated with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award, is expected to be a significant gathering, bringing together political leaders from various spectrums to honor the Prime Minister for his leadership and contributions to the nation.
