Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Hours after Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s death in a tragic aur crash, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Maharashtra governor Acharya Devvrat and deputy CM Eknath Shinde, reached NCP chief’s residence in Baramati to console his wife and other family members.In a video released by news agency PTI, Fadnavis is seen comforting Ajit Pawar’s wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar. During the meet, NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP and Pawar’s cousin Supriya Sule was also present.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Sharad Pawar and expressed his condolences to the family.“I am deeply saddened by the tragic plane crash that occurred in Baramati, Maharashtra. I share in the grief of all those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. I pray that the bereaved families find strength and courage in this moment of sorrow,” the Prime Minister said in a post earlier in the day.Earlier in the day, Sunetra broke down while meeting members of the Pawar family. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, late Ajit Pawar’s cousin, was also seen deeply emotional as family members gathered to mourn the loss.Ajit Pawar’s funeral will be held in Baramati on Thursday. PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the last rites. Fadnavis also announced a state holiday and three days of mourning following the demise of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. During the three-day mourning period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings across Maharashtra where it is regularly hoisted.No government entertainment programmes will be organised during this period. All state government offices across Maharashtra will remain closed on Wednesday, January 28.Pawar, along with his PSO and three cabin crew members, died in a fatal plane crash while travelling from Mumbai to Baramati. The plane crashed while attempting to land at the Baramati airfield.The crash occurred around 8.48 am, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have dispatched probe teams to the site of the mishap to investigate.Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. He had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.
