Today, with the sudden death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, his family, his party, Maharashtra, and the entire country have been plunged into grief—shocked and deeply saddened. Ajit Pawar was a towering figure in Maharashtra politics. He gave his all to public life and consistently worked towards seeing Maharashtra and the country reach the pinnacle of progress.
While the President, the Prime Minister and leaders across the political spectrum are mourning this tragedy, the supreme leader of the Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister of West Bengal has made a statement so despicable that it has dragged Indian politics to its lowest level and betrayed basic human sensitivity. The mortal remains of a leader have not even been consigned to the funeral pyre, and yet you claim that because he allegedly wanted to leave the Mahayuti in Maharashtra and “return home”, he was therefore killed. With elections in Bengal just two months away, you are attempting—true to your mindset—to exploit this divine calamity to defame the BJP. The country looks upon such petty thinking with contempt.
In plane crashes, leaders such as Sanjay Gandhi, Madhavrao Scindia, GMC Balayogi, YS Rajasekhara Reddy and Bipin Rawat have lost their lives. Just last year, 175 passengers died in an Air India crash. Will you search for political conspiracies in every such tragedy? Shame on such thinking.
In the present case, the DGCA has constituted an inquiry committee. At the very least, wait for its report. Otherwise, your statement may well prove to be the final nail in the coffin of your political decline.
This episode has also exposed the immaturity of Akhilesh Yadav, who only yesterday claimed that only Mamata Banerjee could take on the BJP and that the INDIA alliance should accept her leadership. Similarly irresponsible remarks have also come from Independent Congress leader Pappu Yadav from Purnia and former SP MP HT Hasan in the context of this tragedy.
Such accidents are not unprecedented in India. Yet, even before the inquiry report is released and before the family has spoken, Mamata Banerjee’s vulture-like attack on a dead body is utterly condemnable. In my view, after this grave allegation by Mamata Banerjee, the inquiry committee should summon her and probe the matter thoroughly to ascertain the truth—whether such a statement stems from a conspiracy or is merely an outrageous coincidence.
