Satara, Maharashtra:
A week after he made a crass remark ridiculing a farmer who was on a hunger strike on the drought situation in the state, Maharashtra Deputy Chief minister Ajit Pawar, as an act of his repentance, sat on a day-long hunger strike in the Satara district of Maharashtra.
"We all have made mistakes but we should be able to accept our mistakes and rectify it. Henceforth I will make sure to use my words and language with more responsibility," said Mr Pawar, who sat on a fast before the memorial of Maharashtra's first chief minister Yashvantrao Chavan. Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil came to visit him.
While Mr Pawar says his act shouldn't be politicised as he is just following his inner voice, Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Raote said Mr Pawar should have resigned instead of going on a fast. MNS chief Raj Thackeray too maintained that Mr Pawar should resign. "There is no use of expiating after the incident," he said. BJP leader Vinod Tawde said Pawar should resign and work for the drought-affected people.
Yesterday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had backed his nephew by saying that though the remarks by Ajit Pawar were unfortunate, one should put the past behind and move on.