As the NDA government completed 12 years in power, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar strongly defended India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and rejected any comparison between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking at the 27th foundation day event of the NCP (SP) in Mumbai, Pawar said Nehru's contribution to India's freedom struggle and nation-building was unique and could not be equated with that of any contemporary leader. He emphasized that Nehru spent several years in prison during the independence movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and played a foundational role in shaping modern India after independence.
Referring to celebrations marking Modi becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister, Pawar said it was appropriate to respect the office of the Prime Minister in a parliamentary democracy. However, he argued that efforts were being made to create an image that no leader matched Modi's stature. According to Pawar, while Modi's tenure deserves recognition, Nehru's sacrifices during the freedom movement and his role in building independent India place him in a different category.
Pawar also criticized recent remarks made by Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan regarding Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Mahajan had described Operation Blue Star as a "black day" and compared it to an invasion by the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali. Pawar called such comments unacceptable and argued that the sacrifices made by the Nehru-Gandhi family for the country should not be forgotten.
Defending Indira Gandhi, Pawar said she never compromised on India's security or prestige and described Operation Blue Star as a difficult decision taken in the national interest. He also reminded the audience that both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi lost their lives while serving the nation.
To highlight Indira Gandhi's commitment to India's dignity abroad, Pawar recounted an incident from her visit to Moscow. He claimed that when Soviet leaders failed to receive her according to diplomatic protocol, she chose not to immediately meet them and instead stayed at the residence of India's ambassador, Inder Kumar Gujral. Pawar said she insisted that she represented millions of Indians and would not tolerate any slight to the country's prestige.
Beyond historical issues, Pawar criticized the current government over challenges facing farmers, unemployed youth, and women. He argued that those in power appeared disconnected from these concerns and also expressed dissatisfaction with India's present foreign policy approach.
The remarks came amid continuing political rivalry within the NCP. The party founded by Pawar in 1999 split in 2023 after his nephew, Ajit Pawar, joined the ruling alliance along with a large group of legislators. The official party name and symbol were subsequently awarded to Ajit Pawar's faction. During his speech, Sharad Pawar also took a veiled swipe at the rival faction over expensive newspaper advertisements released to mark the party's foundation day celebrations.
