NCP chief Sharad Pawar's statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict, wherein he hit out at the Prime Minister for showing solidarity with Israel over the Hamas attack, has triggered a war of words between BJP leaders and the opposition bloc.
Pawar on Wednesday said it was unfortunate that the Prime Minister neglected the real issue as former prime ministers of India stood firmly with Palestine. "The entire land is of Palestine and Israel encroached on their land. That place, land and houses, everything was of Palestine and later Israel took over it. Israel is an outsider and the land is originally of Palestine," Pawar had said while addressing a gathering of party workers in Mumbai.
BJP leader and Assam chief minister Himanta Sarma triggered a controversy when he took a jibe at Pawar for his statement, saying "Sharad Pawar will send Supriya (Sule) madam to Gaza to fight for Hamas."
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis followed suit when he targeted Pawar, saying that Pawar should strongly condemn terrorism and shun vote-bank politics. In a post on social media platform X, Fadnavis said, "India has never changed its position on the Israel-Palestine dispute. However, at the same time, India has been consistently against and has always strongly opposed terrorism in any form and against anyone. When the entire world has condemned the killing of innocent people in Israel and India did the same, Shri Sharad Pawar ji should also speak in the same language against terrorism," he said.
He also invoked past terror attacks in Mumbai. "Mumbai has suffered a lot due to the terror attacks. Especially during the 26/11, Mumbai had lost many citizens, he said.
Other BJP leaders like Piyush Goyal too condemned Pawar's stance on the issue, alleging a "casual approach towards terror" despite being a former defence minister and chief minister.
However, Sule herself reacted to Sarma's comments, saying she was surprised. "I am surprised because Himanta Biswa Sarma has the same DNA as me, he is originally from Congress. He and I share the same Congress DNA. You know how the BJP is disrespectful towards women. But I had hopes from Himanta Biswa Sarma. I am surprised how this change has happened towards women and the approach, probably going into BJP is a little rubbing off on him," Sule reacted.
She added that the BJP IT cell needs to understand and hear carefully what Sharad Pawar has said. "Hear his entire statement," she added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP Sanjay Raut too hit out at Sarma, stating Sarma's "party was no less than Hamas." "The party he (Assam CM) belongs to is no less than Hamas, it is misusing the central agencies, and destroying the Opposition. He should first read and understand history. He is a part of BJP and should know former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s stand on Palestine-Israel," Raut told ANI on Thursday.
NCP (Sharad Pawar Faction) leader Jitendra Awhad too said Sarma had "hatred in mind" and had no clue about international politics. "I don't think people like Himanta Biswa Sarma need to be taken seriously -those who have hatred in mind and those who do not know what international politics is all about. Because Palestine is connected to Muslims and Muslim hatred should be brought to India is the only plan they have in their mind. This war is being used as a polarization in India," he added.
