Ashok Chavan warns Jitendra Awhad for his remark on Indira Gandhi, says don't disrespect

Maharashtra PWD Minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday warned NCP leader Jitendra Awhad for his statement on Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Taking to microblogging site, Chavan ackwledged that Awhad clarified his position on his remark but also said that disrespect of any kind to ir party leader will t be tolerated. 

In his tweet, Chavan said, "Indira Gandhi who sacrificed her life for country's unity and integrity is remembered for her duty even today. It is good that Jitendra Awhad issued a clarification in time. Even n I would like to say something about this. Anyone who disrespects our leaders will be given a befitting response."

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Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and NCP leader Jitendra Awhad sparked a row after in a public rally he said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi strangulated democracy and invited resistance and same will happen in country again. On Wednesday, Jitendra Awhad said, "Indira Gandhi had also strangulated democracy and body was ready to speak against her. n, students from Ahmedabad and Patna protested and JP (Jayaprakash Narayan) movement started leading to her defeat. This history will be repeated in Maharashtra and country." Interesting to te that NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, who was n in Congress, was a close ally of Indira Gandhi during her tenure as PM.

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Awhad hits back, cites a long list of Indira's achievements

After being criticised by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, Awhad quickly gave an explanation for his statement. Hitting back at Kirit Somaiya, Awhad posted a rebuttal video on Twitter in which he listed all major accomplishments of Indira Gandhi but also pointed to her fault of suspending civil liberties during Emergency. "Indira Gandhi backed establishment of Mumbai as state's capital, nationalised banks, abolished privileges to former monarchs, broke Pakistan into two, annexed Sikkim and stung Chinese, conducted nuclear tests in Pokharan but Emergency she imposed during 1975-77 and suspension of civil liberties invited a backlash. Students rallied behind JP movement and began protesting. This is history, everyone is aware of this."

He added, "Today, Amit Shah and Narendra Modi are infringing upon civil liberties and people are standing up as y did in Indira Gandhi's time. My friend Kirit Somaiya should te that I am a supporter of Indira Gandhi and I'm t ashamed of saying it out loud. re can be comparison of Indira Gandhi with Modi-Shah."

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BJP takes a jibe

Reacting on Awhad's 'Indira Gandhi' remark, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya took a jibe at Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance stating that what Jitendra Awhad said was true and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena and Congress should agree on this. "I agree with Awhad. I hope or partners of Thackeray Sarkar Shivsena & Congress will agree with Awhad," Somaiya wrote on Twitter.

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