'New Putin in making': Sharad Pawar attacks PM Modi; Fadnavis hits back

Maharashtra deputy CM & BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday slammed Sharad Pawar's remarks saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is 'a new Putin is in the making in India,' attributing it to the opposition's desperation in the face of electoral losses.

"As a result of desperation due to losing, they have resorted to abuse. Whenever Modi ji is abused, he registers a bigger win," said Fadnavis.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday had criticised PM Modi for his tendency to criticise others instead of discussing the accomplishments of his government over the past decade. Pawar claimed that previous prime ministers had worked towards building a new India, while PM Modi focused on finding fault with others.

Pawar highlighted the contributions of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, stating that his legacy cannot be forgotten. However, he noted that PM Modi persistently criticizes Nehru instead of focusing on the achievements of the Central government during his tenure.

"After Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, I saw the working of almost all PMs ranging from Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Narasimha Rao to Manmohan Singh. Their efforts were to make a new India, but the incumbent PM only criticises," Pawar said.

"Instead of telling what the Central government did in the last ten years, he (Modi) keeps criticising others," Pawar added.

The NCP (SP) chief accused PM Modi of attempting to instill fear in the public and compared his actions to those of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We fear that a new Putin is in the making in India", he said.

Amravati along with 7 other constituencies of the state will go to voting in the second phase of election on April 26.