PM Modi taunts Sharad Pawar's "studied silence"

PM Narendra Modi on Friday, asked NCP chief Sharad Pawar's "studied silence" on the request for a separate PM for Jammu and Kashmir, saying the party would have to live up to the "nationalist" in its name.

Omar Abdullah, the former J&K chief minister and National Conference leader had told his party would strive for reinstatement of the terms of compliance of the state, including the provision for Sadr-e-Riyasat (president) and Prime Minister.

"I am surprised that Pawar is not speaking on the issue. I do not expect Congress to react on this matter. But what has happened to Pawar, who quit Congress on the issue of nationalism? Why is he not speaking on this issue?" said Modi at a rally in Ahmednagar.

Modi said, Pawar belongs to the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, thus he should not overlook that his party's name has the word 'nationalist' in it. "Did Pawar use the word nationalist in his party's name just to hoodwink people?" he questioned.

Modi advised first-time voters not to vote for a party that is not strong and incompetent of guaranteeing the safety of the country, mocking Congress for proclaiming to revoke Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Throughout the UPA tenure there were terror attacks in cities like Mumbai and Pune said Modi. "But ever since I formed the government, there has been no such incident in the state. Masterminds of such attacks sitting in Pakistan know well that it would prove costly for them since the chowkidar would hit them back," he added.

Others present at the rally were CM Devendra Fadnavis, NDA candidates of Ahmednagar and Shirdi, Sujay Vikhe Patil and Sadashiv Lokhande. Congress stalwart Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, father of Sujay, had requested Pawar to allow his son to contest from Ahmednagar. Nevertheless, Pawar refused to assist and Sujay joined BJP.