Under flak for “defending” Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the controversial Rafale deal, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday rejected the charge, saying he would “never” do that.
“Some people have criticised me saying I supported him [Mr. Modi]. I have not supported him. I did not and will never,” Mr. Pawar said at a party meeting here in the Marathwada region.
Mr. Pawar had caused a flutter with his remarks that he did not think that people had doubts about Mr. Modi’s intentions in the purchase of fighter jets from France.
Objecting to the remarks, NCP founder member Tariq Anwar and general secretary Munaf Hakim quit the party last week.
The statement had come at a time when the Congress has launched a pointed attack on the Prime Minister and is trying to forge an alliance with the NCP for future polls. The NCP had said that Pawar was quoted out of context by the media.
