KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday demanded a Supreme Court–monitored probe into the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, saying she had no faith in any central or state investigating agency.
“We have trust only in the Supreme Court and no other agency. All agencies have been completely compromised. It is truly a great loss. My condolences to his family, the people of Maharashtra, and to Sharad Pawar,” she added.
The Bengal CM also claimed that she learnt that ‘someone’ from another party had made a statement saying, “Pawar was willing to leave the BJP.”
“I am deeply shocked to hear the news of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash this morning. Even political leaders are not safe in this country, let alone common people,” she said.
Former state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a five-time former Congress MP from the Behrampore constituency in Murshidabad, West Bengal, also demanded a proper investigation into the death of the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and others in the chopper crash.
“Truth should come out. He was an influential leader and used to hold big portfolios. A proper investigation should be made to unearth the truth behind the shocking incident. I think an immediate investigation is needed to find out the mystery behind his death,” Chowdhury told the media.
Ajit Pawar and four other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning. The Learjet 46, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures crash- landed near Baramati in Pune district earlier in the morning.
Pawar was traveling to Baramati from Mumbai to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections in the state.
The Learjet 45 (LJ45), a mid-size business jet aircraft produced by the Learjet Division of Bombardier Aerospace, went off the runway while attempting to land at Baramati airport and burst into flames.
According to an eyewitness, the ill-fated aircraft carrying Ajit Pawar appeared "a bit unstable in the air" and exploded the moment it crashed on the ground.
Earlier in the morning, Mamata called the incident a “deep personal loss. She extended her condolences to Pawar’s family, including his uncle Sharad Pawar, and to his friends, followers, and supporters.
(With inputs from Online Desk)
