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 the microblogging site, Chavan acknowledged that Awhad clarified his position on his remark but also said that disrespect of any kind to their party leader will not be tolerated. 

In his tweet, Chavan said, "Indira Gandhi who sacrificed her life for the country's unity and integrity is remembered for her duty even today. It is good that Jitendra Awhad issued a clarification in time. Even then 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 the same will happen in the country again. On Wednesday, Jitendra Awhad said, "Indira Gandhi had also strangulated democracy and nobody was ready to speak against her. Then, students from Ahmedabad and Patna protested and the JP (Jayaprakash Narayan) movement started leading to her defeat. This history will be repeated in Maharashtra and the country." Interesting to note that NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, who was then in the 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 the 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 the Emergency. "Indira Gandhi backed the establishment of Mumbai as the state's capital, nationalised banks, abolished privileges to former monarchs, broke Pakistan into two, annexed Sikkim and stung the Chinese, conducted nuclear tests in Pokharan but the Emergency she imposed during 1975-77 and suspension of civil liberties invited a backlash. Students rallied behind the 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 they did in Indira Gandhi's time. My friend Kirit Somaiya should note that I am a supporter of Indira Gandhi and I'm not ashamed of saying it out loud. There can be no 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 the 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 other partners of Thackeray Sarkar Shivsena & Congress will agree with Awhad," Somaiya wrote on Twitter.

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