"I'm Still Effective, Whether 82 or 92": Sharad Pawar Hits Back At Nephew
Sharad Pawar, who has been quiet on his nephew’s age slur, claimed today that effectiveness is the bottom line regardless of age. “I am still effective, whether I am 82 or 92,” the NCP chief stated in Delhi, where he convened the party’s national executive meeting and formally ousted 12 rebels, including his nephew and former senior adviser Praful Patel.
In a stunning outburst yesterday, Ajit Pawar questioned his uncle’s ability to play a crucial political role in the party at his age.
“In other parties, leaders retire after an age. In BJP, leaders retire at 75, when are you going to stop? You should also give new people a chance. If we make mistakes, tell us. Your age is 83, will you ever stop or not?” the 63-year-old had said.
Even his strongest supporters had expressed discomfort at the remarks, which had turned a political division into a personal one.
It provoked a harsh response from Supriya Sule, who had previously stated that regardless of his political stance, Ajit Pawar will remain her “big brother.”
“Some people are saying that people who are senior now should give us blessings. Why should they stop working? Ratan Tata is 86 years old. Serum Institute’s Cyrus Poonawala’s age is 84. Amitabh Bachchan is 82…,” Supriya Sule said, also naming Warren Buffet and Farooq Abdullah. Disrespect us, not our father,” she said.
