PUNE: Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu today had nice words for NCP president Sharad Pawar, saying he respected Pawar's "wisdom and experience".
Asked to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement during his visit to Baramati that he (Modi) meets the former union Agriculture minister every month, Naidu said "Pawar is an experienced man and I respect his wisdom as a minister."
Naidu, who was here to highlight achievements of the Modi government during one year of NDA rule, also said, "Pawar is rooted to the soil (jamin ke saath jude hai)".
When his attention was drawn to the scathing attack launched by BJP leadership accusing Pawar of corruption during the last election campaign, Naidu said, "It was election..."
He parried a question on whether the allegations of corruption levelled against Pawar were baseless.
Meanwhile, NCP workers in the city today staged demonstrations condemning one year of the NDA rule, holding carrots in hands and shouting slogans that Modi government had betrayed the people with false assurances on various issues including the black money.
Congress activists, who also staged a demonstration, displayed lolly-pops and alleged that Modi government only promoted interests of industrialists.