Does it cost money to speak with respect?: Ajit Pawar takes on BJP after party member’s remark on Vilasrao Deshmukh creates uproar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: NCP chief and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday, without naming BJP state president Ravindra Chavan, launched a sharp attack on BJP over remarks allegedly made in Latur questioning the legacy of former CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, asking if it costs money to speak with respect.Earlier this week, Chavan stoked a controversy when he allegedly said the name of Deshmukh would be wiped out from Latur. After severe criticism, he expressed regret over the statement. Addressing a public meeting during the civic election campaign in Latur, Pawar said he had worked closely with Deshmukh and reminded the ruling party that the former Congress member had become CM due to Sharad Pawar's political magnanimity. Deshmukh made a significant contribution to Maharashtra, and his identity could not be erased, Ajit Pawar said, invoking the legacy of leaders like Yashwantrao Chavan, Vasantdada Patil and Sharad Pawar."Someone came to Latur and spoke about wiping out Vilasrao Deshmukh's identity. Does it cost money to speak respectfully?" Pawar asked, drawing applause from the crowd. He said politicians should exercise restraint and respect while referring to towering figures in the state's political history.On development issues, Pawar said several municipal projects received substantial funding when Sanjay Bansode was a minister, and that current minister Babasaheb Patil was also being given adequate resources. He said municipal corporations in Marathwada should function on the lines of civic bodies run by NCP.Pawar recalled how Janardan Waghmare had been elected as the municipal chief earlier despite the then CM wielding considerable influence, saying the people of Latur had demonstrated their resolve and could do so again. "If you make up your mind, you know what you can achieve," he told voters.Highlighting civic issues, Pawar said he often noticed garbage piled up across the city during his visits to Latur and stressed the need for daily cleaning. He also said several trees had dried up due to neglect. Pawar urged voters to support candidates committed to addressing these problems. "If you elect our candidates, we will make Latur like Pimpri Chinchwad," Pawar said, promising better sanitation, greenery and civic amenities if his party secured control of the municipal corporation.He said the upcoming municipal polls were crucial for setting the development agenda of the city for the next five years, urging voters to look beyond party slogans and focus on performance, accountability and delivery of basic services. The deputy CM said urban governance directly impacted quality of life, employment opportunities and public health in growing cities like Latur.