Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his continued respect for Sharad Pawar despite the NCP (SP) leader’s criticism and comparison of him to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an exclusive interview with News18, PM Modi acknowledged Pawar’s long-standing public service and noted his pride in being honoured with the country’s second-highest civilian award by a government Pawar associates with ‘Putin’.
In a recent election rally in Maharashtra’s Amravati, Pawar accused PM Modi of trying to instil fear in the country and likened his actions to Putin’s. “We fear that a new Putin is emerging in India,” the veteran leader stated.
During the interview, PM Modi emphasized that the selection process for Padma awards has evolved under his administration, honouring leaders across party lines for their contributions to various fields. He cited examples such as former defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi, and former Karnataka CM SM Krishna as recipients of the Padma awards.
PM Modi also noted the BJP government’s decision to honour opposition leaders with the prestigious Bharat Ratna, including former President Pranab Mukherjee and former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, emphasizing that these decisions were made based on merit rather than political affiliations.
In conclusion, PM Modi stressed the government’s commitment to recognizing achievements irrespective of party lines and encouraged the public to appreciate the thoughtfulness behind such decisions.
