Didi Seeks SC-Probe into Pawar's Death; TMC Chief Slams PM Modi In Singur

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee suspected foul play behind the air crash that left Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar dead along with four other people on Wednesday and demanded a court-monitored probe into it.

The Trinamul Congress supremo pointed out the occurrence of the tragic incident in wake of speculations about Pawar to leave the BJP-led NDA government in Maharashtra. She also postponed her Delhi visit.

Ms Banerjee wrote on X-handle, “Deeply shocked and stunned by the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar! The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati today morning, and I am feeling a deep sense of loss.”

She added, “My condolences to his family including his uncle Sharad Pawar ji, and late Ajitji's all friends and followers. The incident needs proper investigation.” The CM however flagged her concerns while leaving for Singur in Hooghly.

“There is no safety and security of the people of this country, not even the political leaders. I don't know what is the fate of the opposition political parties. But he was very much with the ruling party,” Ms Banerjee said of the deceased NCP leader.

She added, “Few days ago, I came to know from social networks that someone from another party gave a statement of Pawar willing to leave BJP. What happened today, I need a proper investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court into it.”

Ms Banerjee claimed, “We have the trust only in the SC and not any agency. All the agencies are being totally purchased. It's a great loss for the country.” She later countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attack with her achievements and warnings at a rally in Singur.

In a veiled reference to Mr Modi's rally there on January 18, the TMC chief alleged, “A person came here and bragged of recognising Bangla as a Dhrupadi language. This is an absolute lie. Except Bengali, all other Dhrupadi languages were recognised. I sent bags of books and evidence. We should have got the recognition much earlier but you didn’t do it then. We forced you to do it.”

Ms Banerjee then took a swipe at Mr Modi and union home minister Amit Shah over logical discrepancies in the SIR. She argued, “Married women are summoned to explain at hearings why their surnames changed post-marriage. Their names are also getting deleted. This shows they are anti-women. With due respect, I would like to know the surname of the Prime Minister’s wife only if he accepts it (that he is married). Mr Home Minister, what is your wife's surname?”

She added, “If I am not attacked, I blow like a breeze. When I am attacked, I retaliate. I then become a storm like Tornado and Nor’wester.”