Have requested for correct lack of life toll in Kharghar sunstroke incident by means of RTI: Ajit Pawar

By PTI

PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar on Friday reiterated his demand for a judicial inquiry into the deaths of people all through or after the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony and acknowledged they’re trying to find particulars in regards to the incident, along with the “actual” number of fatalities, by way of the Right to Information Act.

Addressing a press conference proper right here, Pawar moreover responded to a query on Thursday’s meeting between industrialist Gautam Adani and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying the two know each other and there could also be nothing fallacious if two such people meet.

He acknowledged he had no thought regarding the motive behind the meeting.

At least 14 people, along with 10 girls, died after affected by sunstroke in the middle of the government-sponsored Maharashtra Bhushan award event at Kharghar neighbouring Mumbai on Sunday.

Ajit Pawar acknowledged he has written to Governor Ramesh Bais urging him to impress a judicial probe.

“We have not yet received the correct numbers (death toll). We know the numbers announced by the state government. There are people who are talking about reasons like sunstroke, lack of food, etc. in a hush-hush manner,” he acknowledged.

The NCP chief acknowledged post-mortem of the victims has been achieved and he has sought the details by way of RTI. “Some people say that there is a discrepancy in the numbers given by the state government. Some are claiming a higher toll but I don’t want to say anything about it. During COVID, we had decided that we will not hide the actual numbers,” he acknowledged.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed that fifty to 75 people have died due to the Kharghar event and accused the federal authorities of hiding precise figures.

Stressing his demand for the judicial probe, Pawar acknowledged some visuals have surfaced the place people is likely to be seen screaming and there is no place to maneuver, whereas in only a few others, air-conditioners are being put in. “Again, I’ve no idea whether these visuals are from the (Kharghar) programme. It is a part of the investigation. We have not yet known exactly how many people died,” he acknowledged.

Since the federal authorities organised the event, it turns into their obligation, asserted Pawar.

ALSO READ | Navi Mumbai the place 13 people died due to sunstroke has no IMD observatory

Social worker Appasaheb Dharmadhikari was given the state’s highest award, Maharashtra Bhushan, by the fingers of Union Minister Amit Shah in the middle of the event in Kharghar. “The state government has formed a committee headed by an IAS officer. It should be probed why afternoon time was chosen for the event and why no ‘mandap’ was erected. These are serious issues,” he acknowledged.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has appointed a one-member committee of Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Nitin Keer to probe the deaths of 14 people.

Pawar acknowledged that data regarding the incident will come to the fore after a judicial probe. “If the probe is conducted by an official, there are chances of attempts to save other officials. Since it is a serious matter, I have sought a judicial probe,” he acknowledged.

The NCP chief acknowledged they’ve sought to know how so much money was spent on the event. “Some are claiming Rs 13 crore, others saying Rs 14 crore but my take is that in the history of the Maharashtra Bhusan award functions, the expenses of this event were the highest,” he acknowledged.

Asked if he’ll demand the resignation of the federal authorities, Pawar acknowledged he would first similar to the information to return again out by way of the judicial probe. To a question about Sanjay Raut giving “advice” no matter his apparent dig, Pawar’s response was: “Who is Sanjay Raut?” He then acknowledged, “I had not taken anyone’s name. I had spoken about our party and ourselves,” he acknowledged.

खारघर येथे ‘महाराष्ट्र भूषण’ पुरस्कार वितरण कार्यक्रमावेळी झालेल्या दुर्घटनेत १४ निष्पाप अनुयायांचा मृत्यू झाला तर अनेक जण बाधित झाले. या घटनेमागचे सत्य बाहेर येण्यासाठी याची निवृत्त न्यायाधिशांमार्फत चौकशी करण्याची मागणी पत्राद्वारे महामहीम राज्यपाल श्री रमेश बैस यांना केली आहे. pic.twitter.com/81uZvM7wyO

— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) April 20, 2023

Amid speculations that he and a gaggle of MLAs loyal to him may align with the BJP, Pawar currently acknowledged that leaders of various occasions have been behaving like spokespersons of the NCP.

On a question on industrialist Gautam Adani meeting NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday, Ajit Pawar acknowledged he was not acutely aware of the rationale. “If some allegations are levelled against any person, that person meets political luminaries to present his side, but here I do not know why the meeting took place,” he acknowledged.

Pawar moreover acknowledged that not one of many allegations in direction of Adani has been proved however and that Supreme Court has organize a committee to look into the matter.

US short-seller Hindenburg has alleged stock manipulation and accounting fraud in companies belonging to billionaire Adani.

He moreover acknowledged that everyone is conscious of that Adani and his uncle Sharad Pawar know each other. There is nothing fallacious if such people meet, he added.

On the Maratha Reservation analysis petition being rejected by the Supreme Court, Pawar acknowledged that every one the stakeholders, along with Opposition occasions, must be taken into confidence and a solution be chalked out.

ALSO READ | I solely take heed to Sharad Pawar: Sanjay Raut after Ajit Pawar slams him

He acknowledged he had no thought regarding the motive behind the meeting.googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );