Sharad Pawar to attend event to honour PM Modi, opposition unhappy | India News – Times of India
Tilak’s statement on Saturday came amid some disapproval from allies of Pawar’s NCP, including Congress, over his attendance at the function with PM Modi. However, Tilak, who is a Congressman himself, clarified that the award ceremony was a non-political event, and the presence of political leaders at such occasions should not be objected to.
The award ceremony, scheduled for August 1, will confer the Lokmanya Tilak National Award on PM Modi. Tilak emphasised that the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust has been recognising and honouring various successful personalities, not limited to politicians but also including renowned scientists. Hence, he urged against politicising the event.
Tilak asserted that the NCP patriarch had already confirmed his attendance, and there had been no change to his schedule. Along with Pawar, former Union home minister and senior Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde, who is a trustee, will also be present at the event to honour PM Modi.
Maharashtra Congress vice president Mohan Joshi said the opposition parties under the banner of INDIA would be showing black flags to Modi during his visit on August 1 in protest against his inaction over the violence in Manipur.
Along with Congress, leaders of NCP’s Pawar faction, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), and social activist Baba Adhav will also take part in the protest.
