Nationalist Congress Party leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday took a veiled jibe at his uncle Sharad Pawar over his age, saying some people are not ready to retire even though they are in their 80s.
"Employees of Maharashtra government retire at the age of 58. Most people normally stop their active professional life after turning 75. But there are a few (Sharad Pawar) who, even after crossing 80 years of age and now 84, are not ready to retire," said Ajit Pawar while addressing a gathering of party workers in Thane district.
Ajit Pawar and some MLAs loyal to him had joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra last July. He subsequently staked a claim to the Nationalist Congress Party's name and poll symbol. The move was challenged in the Election Commission by NCP founder Sharad Pawar.
"We are here to work and we can perform," Ajit Pawar said, adding that he joined the stated government to serve the people whose problems and other issues cannot be solved without power.
In a veiled warning to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange who has announced a march to Mumbai, Ajit Pawar said nobody will be allowed to take law into his hands.
"A debate on the Maratha community's demand for reservation is underway these days. Some people talk of coming to Mumbai to raise their demand. Nobody will be spared if an attempt is made to take the law into their hand. Nobody is above the law," he added.
He also said the government was committed to granting reservations to the Maratha community within the Constitutional framework.
In an apparent reference to NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad, whose remarks on Lord Ram had created a huge row, Ajit said some people are diverting discussions from developmental issues to unnecessary controversies, and urged people to ignore such distractions.
He appealed to NCP workers to unite ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, showcasing NCP's strength in the district, and supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's candidacy for a third term.
Pawar further said funds for the development of Thane district would not be compromised.
