Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Jan 28: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday raised serious doubts over the circumstances surrounding the death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, calling for an investigation monitored directly by the Supreme Court into the tragic plane crash.
Deeply shaken by the incident, Banerjee postponed her scheduled visit to Delhi later in the day. Speaking to reporters while en route to Singur in Hooghly district for a government programme, she suggested that the crash could be linked to a larger political conspiracy.
The chief minister claimed that Ajit Pawar was reportedly considering a break from the BJP-led NDA and was in talks to rejoin the Opposition’s INDIA bloc. Referring to recent statements circulating on social media, she said there had been indications of political realignment shortly before the crash.
Expressing a lack of confidence in central investigative agencies, Banerjee asserted that only a probe overseen by the country’s highest court could ensure fairness and transparency. “We have faith only in the Supreme Court. Other agencies cannot be trusted anymore,” she remarked, alleging that institutions had lost their independence.
Reacting emotionally to the news, Banerjee said the incident highlighted serious concerns about the safety of citizens, including political leaders. “It is shocking and painful. If leaders are not safe, one can only imagine the fate of the Opposition,” she added, calling Pawar’s death a major loss to the nation.
Ajit Pawar, who served as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and was also the NCP chief, died earlier in the day when a small aircraft carrying him crashed near Baramati airport. Four others, including the pilots and his security personnel, also lost their lives.
According to reports, the aircraft had departed from Mumbai at around 8 a.m. and went down approximately 45 minutes later while attempting to land. Pawar was reportedly scheduled to attend multiple public meetings in Baramati as part of preparations for the upcoming local body elections.