Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the proposed International Airport at Purandar. Pawar said that he insisted on the need to expedite the work of the airport in the meeting with officials along with Rajnath Singh.
Taking to Twitter, Sharad Pawar wrote: "Met Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Defence secretary & Civil Aviation secretary in New Delhi to discuss the proposed International Airport at Purandar. @rajnathsingh @DefenceMinIndia#NewDelhi #Meeting."
"The Maharashtra government has proposed to set up new International Airport in order to reduce the heavy air traffic load at Pune International Airport. I insisted on the need to expedite work of the airport. @rajnathsingh @DefenceMinIndia #Meeting," he added.
Meanwhile, a joint delegation of Opposition parties led by Pawar is scheduled to meet President Ram Nath Kovind later in the evening today. Pawar had said on Tuesday that leaders from different political parties will meet on Wednesday to take a collective stand on the new farm laws.
"Leaders from different political parties (those opposing the farm bills) will sit, discuss and take a collective stand on the contentious farm laws before meeting President Ram Nath Kovind," Pawar said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP President Sharad Pawar, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D Raja and DMK's TKS Elangovan, and others are likely to be part of the delegation.
As part of the agitation, farmers had called for a nationwide shutdown called on Tuesday. The peaceful 'Bharat Bandh' evoked mixed response with most of the public transport in Mumbai remaining unaffected.
Farmers are demanding repeal of The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and the Agricultural Services Agreement Act 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.
(Inputs from PTI)
