'Was unwell': Ajit Pawar, who was 'incommunicado', reproaches media for speculation over his absence on Friday

Panic gripped the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) recently as party leader Ajit Pawar and seven NCP MLAs were not reachable.

Pawar reportedly cancelled all his programs yesterday and also the ones that are lined up for the coming two days.

Following his disappearance, there were speculations that he may be upset with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, and some are also speculating that he may be suffering from COVID-19.

However, refuting the allegations NCP chief Sharad Pawar has claimed that he is very much in touch with Ajit Pawar, a report from New Indian Express stated.

Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday said he cancelled his programmes for Friday as he was unwell after long tours across Maharashtra over the past few days and asked the media to not speculate on such issues as it caused confusion.

"I was unwell so I cancelled tours and events scheduled for Friday. Over the past few days, I have travelled across Maharashtra and have not got enough rest. Due to lack of proper sleep, pulmonary irritation was also on the rise. I took medicines and took rest at home as advised by the doctor," he said.

On Sharad Pawar's statement on the Adani issue Pawar said that it was the party's stand.

"I also watched Sharad Pawar's interview on TV...He is our top leader and if he took a stand on some topic then we shall not again discuss that...That is his stand (Sharad Pawar's statement), and ours too," he told ANI.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar's press conference

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said he is not completely opposed to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the charges against the Adani group, but a Supreme Court committee will be more useful and effective.

Talking to reporters, Pawar said if a JPC has 21 members, 15 will be from the ruling party and six from the opposition due to numerical strength in Parliament, which will create doubts on the panel.

He said the apex court decided to appoint a panel of retired Supreme Court judges with a direction of submitting the report in a specific time period.

"I am not completely opposed to the JPC.there have been JPCs and I have been a chairman of some of the JPCs. The JPC will be constituted on the basis of majority (in Parliament). Instead of a JPC, I am of the opinion the Supreme Court committee is more useful and effective," Pawar said.

(With PTI inputs)