NCP strongman Sharad Pawar slams Modi for skipping all party meet on Pulwama attack

NCP president Sharad Pawar Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for skipping an all-party meeting called by the NDA government after the Pulwama terror attack. Instead of attending the meeting over such a serious issue, Modi chose to address rallies elsewhere, the former Union minister said.

"The all-party meeting was called on Saturday. In fact, we were told that PM Modi would chair the meeting. Presuming that Modi would attend the meeting, we all went to Delhi as it (the terror attack in South Kashmir) was an attack on the nation," Pawar told reporters here. "Upon reaching there, we came to know that PM was not there....when 40 CRPF jawans got martyred and there was a serious situation, the PM should have been present at the meeting, but he chose to address public rallies in Dhule and Yavatmal (in Maharashtra), where he criticised us (opposition parties)," he said.

Pawar was speaking to reporters after unveiling a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji on the premises of MIT World Peace University here. Asked about the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance which was announced Monday, Pawar said it was bound to happen.

"For the last few months, they hurled abuses at each other and now they are holding hands. But the people of the state are mature enough and know the politics behind it. The people will give a proper reply to those who cheated them," he said.

(With inputs from agencies.)