NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday, 6 June, said that the RSS and the BJP holding Iftar parties for Muslims is "nothing but a joke".
Pawar had held an Iftar party to mark the ongoing month of Ramzan at Haj House on Wednesday. The party was attended by prominent NCP leaders and members of the Muslim community.
Addressing the gathering, Pawar took potshots at the RSS and the BJP without naming them.
"I have read in newspapers that a Nagpur-based organisation and a political party, which are known to tear the social fabric and communal harmony, are also offering ‘daavat' (invite for a feast),” he said.
Coming in this holy month (of Ramzan), it is nothing but a joke. It shows that these people have some other motives.Sharad Pawar
"However, I am still very hopeful that the country will move in the the right direction in coming days," the former Union minister added.
NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Majid Memon, Sachin Ahir, DP Tripathi and Dhananjay Munde were present at the event.
Speaking on the occasion, state NCP chief Jayant Patil said that Pawar, with his unmatchable stature, is the most suitable candidate for the prime minister's post in the coming elections.
Pawar had earlier said that he would be happy to bring together “like-minded” parties in light of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections of 2019. His statement set off wide-spread speculations about whether Pawar was aiming for a UP-like anti-BJP front in Maharashtra.
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