Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised NCP leader Sharad Pawar for his pro-Pakistan remark, the NCP chief on Friday claimed that the Prime Minister should have ascertained his statement. Addressing party workers in Aurangabad, Pawar said that before criticising him over his statement about Pakistan, PM Modi could have verified the statement. "The Prime Minister said I have love for our neighboring country...I have been defence minister of this country. The Prime Minister should have verified my statement before criticizing me," Pawar said. Pawar also said that he will not criticise PM Modi further because he does not want to hurt the dignity of the Prime Minister's office. Additionally, the NCP also denied PM Modi's charge, accusing him of distorting Pawar's statement. It also released a video of Pawar's original remarks, where he had said that political and military establishment of Pakistan spreads hatred against India, but when he visited that country during the Indian cricket team's Pakistan tour, he saw people's love for India.

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Prime Minister's remark on Sharad Pawar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed a public rally in Nashik and slammed the NCP chief for his pro-Pakistan remark. "Sharad Pawar ji said he is fond of the neighbouring country, fine that's his wish. He thinks that the rulers and administrators in the neighbouring country are good, that's also his views. But the country, the world, everyone knows where is the factory of terror and from where the pictures of discrimination and violence arrive. In politics, parties and politicians may win or lose, but it is everyone's duty to make the country victorious," PM Modi said.

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Sharad Pawar's pro-Pak remark

Speaking at a public rally as Maharashtra is gearing up for the assembly polls, the NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that people are spreading false information about Pakistan to gain political mileage. He spoke about the hospitality he received in Pakistan. "I have visited Pakistan and received their hospitality. Pakistanis have relatives in India and they want to meet them and vice versa. But there are visa issues. People here say that those in Pakistan are facing injustice and are unhappy ....these things are being said only for political gains without understanding the actual situation in Pakistan. Those in power here are spreading false things for political benefits," he said.

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