Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Pune was cancelled due to heavy rains, NCP-Supremo Sharad Pawar’s daughter and MP Supriya Sule took a sharp dig at the PM on Thursday, claiming that he had already inaugurated the Pune Metro project five times before.
“The inauguration of the metro for which PM Modi was scheduled to visit Pune has already been done five times. It would have been the sixth time PM Modi came for the same work,” Sule remarked, criticizing the repeated ceremonies for the same project.
Supriya Sule further targeted the BJP-Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government, saying they should not have disturbed a busy person like PM Modi for a repetitive task. “It’s shocking that the Maharashtra government was seeking time from a busy person like the PM for the same task again,” she said.
Prime Minister Modi was set to flag off the Pune Metro train line from District Court to Swargate and launch development projects worth ₹22,600 crore during his visit. However, due to the heavy rains on Wednesday evening, the ground at SP College, which was the venue for the event, was flooded, leading to the cancellation of the programme.
Pune Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar confirmed the postponement, stating, “The PM’s visit to Pune has been cancelled and the programme officially postponed.” Maharashtra Metro spokesperson Hemant Sonawane also cited safety concerns for the attendees due to the adverse weather conditions. “The programme has been cancelled due to the orange alert (for heavy rains) issued for Thursday by the IMD. If there are rains, people coming for the programme may face hassles, so for the safety of the people, the programme has been cancelled,” he explained.
The new date for PM Modi’s visit to Pune is yet to be announced.
Sule’s comments reflect the ongoing political friction between the opposition and the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, as the state gears up for elections later this year. With high stakes in the upcoming polls, such exchanges are expected to intensify in the coming months.
