Golaghat (Assam) [India], January 29 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks on the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, urging her to follow the guidance of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and avoid politicising the tragic incident.
"I have also seen the statement of Sharad Pawar. He has said that it is not appropriate to mislead over such an accident. Mamata Banerjee should read the statement of Sharad Pawar and learn something in politics," CM Sarma said to the media.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur also reacted to Mamata Banerjee's statement, urging a focus on investigation rather than politics.
"The plane crash incident should be investigated, and the reasons behind the crash should come out. Maharashtra has lost a big leader, and we have lost a dear friend. There should be no politics on this matter," Thakur said to the media.
The comments come in response to Mamata Banerjee's call for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the Baramati plane crash, in which Ajit Pawar and four others lost their lives. In a post on X, Banerjee expressed her shock at the incident and urged a "proper investigation" into the crash, hinting at potential foul play.
"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 this morning, and I am feeling a deep sense of loss. My condolences to his family, including his uncle Sharad Pawar, and late Ajit's all friends and followers. The incident needs a proper investigation," Banerjee's X post read.
As this happened, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar urged people not to politicise the death of his nephew, who was killed in the fatal Baramati plane crash. The leader said that the plane crash was an accident and "politics should not be brought into this".
"This is a huge loss for Maharashtra. Maharashtra has lost a dynamic and decisive leader. Some people are saying there is some politics behind this, but it was an accident, and there is no politics involved. Politics should not be brought into this," Pawar said in a video message.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday accused Banerjee of indulging in "dirty and despicable politics," describing her remarks as "very unfortunate" and emphasising that Sharad Pawar himself had stated the crash was an accident.
"It's very unfortunate. Senior leader Sharad Pawar himself has very clearly stated that an accident occurred, and tragically, lives were lost in the accident, and that politics should not be played over this. I am deeply saddened that we have reached such a point where such dirty and despicable politics are being played out even over someone's death," Fadnavis told ANI.
"I am very sad that Mamata Didi is stooping to such a low level in politics. It is very unfortunate and completely wrong. She should not have made such a statement. To insult a very close and beloved leader of Maharashtra by politicising his death in this manner is absolutely wrong," he added.
Ajit Pawar, 66, died on Wednesday morning after the aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district. The plane crash-landed near the runway threshold, killing all five people on board the chartered plane. Among the deceased were his personal security officer, a flight attendant and two pilots.
The crash occurred around 8.48 am. Pawar was on his way to Baramati from Mumbai to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections.
Earlier today, the last rites of Ajit Pawar were held with full state honours at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, where his sons lit the funeral pyre and performed the final rituals.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu informed CM Fadnavis that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had initiated a formal investigation into the recent aircraft accident.
In response to a letter from CM Fadnavis, the Union Minister said the aircraft's black box has been taken into custody and that the investigation has commenced in accordance with the Aircraft Accident and Incident Rules. He assured that the probe would be conducted transparently and time-boundly.