Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has urged political leaders not to turn the death of her husband and NCP chief Ajit Pawar into a political controversy, saying his family is still dealing with the enormous loss.
Ajit Pawar, 66, died along with four others when a plane crashed near the Baramati airstrip in Pune district on January 28.
Sunetra Pawar’s remarks came after NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule questioned the absence of an FIR in connection with the crash and accused the rival NCP faction of being more interested in remaining in power.
Responding to the criticism, Sunetra said the Maharashtra government had already assured the family and the public that the incident would be properly investigated. She said she had faith in the country’s legal and constitutional institutions and that the agencies concerned were carrying out their responsibilities.
“The void created in Maharashtra due to the loss of respected Ajit Dada is immense. Who can understand the pain better than his mother, his children and me? Therefore, do not politicise Ajit Dada’s accident,” Sunetra told reporters on Thursday.
She also questioned the repeated public discussion surrounding the investigation, suggesting that the issue risked turning into a media trial.
“Constantly coming before the media does not necessarily mean that one is getting an update. There is a doubt whether a media trial is being conducted repeatedly,” she said.
Sunetra added that no one could understand the family’s grief better than Ajit’s mother, children and herself.
Opposition Questions Investigation Into Ajit Pawar Plane Crash
The investigation into Ajit Pawar’s death has become a point of political contention in Maharashtra.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has previously called for a judicial inquiry into the plane crash. He had favoured an investigation headed by a retired judge while opposing a CBI probe.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has maintained that the investigation will be completed and that the government will consider the findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Fadnavis had said in July that the AAIB’s final report was expected by January next year and that the government would wait for its findings before deciding on further action.
Sunetra also said that her family had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah following the tragedy. She said Fadnavis had assured the Maharashtra Assembly that the incident would be investigated properly.
The political debate over the crash is expected to continue as the authorities work towards completing the investigation, while Ajit Pawar’s family has appealed for the matter not to be turned into a political battle.
