Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two day Maharashtra tour to campaign for the state assembly polls, on Sunday refrained from criticising its former ally Shiv Sena.
Addressing the rally in Sangli's Tasgaon, Narendra Modi said, "This is the first election in the absence of Balasaheb Thackeray. and I have huge respect for him. Some newspapers have published that Modi has not criticized Shiv Sena in his speeches. In respect for Balasaheb I will not speak even a single word against Shiv Sena."
Few weeks ago, ahead of Maharashtra assembly poll, Shiv Sena and BJP broke their 25 year old alliance over seat sharing issues.
On the second day of his poll campaign in Maharashtra, Modi launched a blistering attack on NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying he lacks the qualities of Maratha leader Shivaji and "failed" to address the water woes of the people of the state as Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister. He said, "I want to ask Pawar who named the Mumbai airport after Shivaji Maharaj? Pawar was the Union Agriculture Minister ans still on an average 3700 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra. "
Also read: Narendra Modi attacks Sharad Pawar, says NCP chief has no qualities of Shivaji
He further added, "Congress-NCP are two parties, but their behaviour is same. They are not nationalist (Rashtravadi) but Bhrashtacharvadi (corrupt). Both the parties quashed the hopes of Maharashtra. They even looted from Kargil widows, they took from the poor. but I want to work for the welfare of people, farmers and the entire state.
Stating that he has a special relation with the region, Modi said, "Here both the MLA and MP of the region are present, but I am here as a worker. We had never won Sangli Lok Sabha constituency since Independence. But I had urged people to make BJP win and they gave the verdict in my favour .We want to work for the farmers, for the villages and for Maharashtra and therefore, I want you to give a complete mandate to BJP.
Modi Further added, " Gujarat was born in 1960, before that it was a part of Maharashtra and even today Maharashtra is our elder brother. Today, India's name reverberates in the US. It is not because of Modi but because of our 125 crore people of the country.
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