Exclusive: Sharad Pawar on BJP-NCP’s 2019 ‘dinner meeting’ at Adani’s home

In 2019, Sharad Pawar’s colleagues in the NCP were worried about cases against them. They believed there was “no escape” unless their party decided to “go” with the BJP.

This is why, Pawar told Newslaundry and The News Minute, he agreed to a 2019 meeting with the BJP. More sensationally, he said the meeting was hosted at the home of businessman Gautam Adani. “I believe in dialogue,” he said.

In this interview with Sreenivasan Jain, Pawar explained the curious choice of venue, pointing out that nowadays, “people know Mr Adani” but Pawar knew him “from when his name was also not there”.

Watch the video for more. Or read the transcript below.

Importantly, these revelations first emerged in a Newslaundry-The News Minute interview with Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar. Watch the interview here, exclusively for subscribers. Or click here to subscribe so you can watch it immediately.

Transcript

Sreenivasan Jain: But Ajit Pawar keeps saying that he was doing it all under instructions from you? That you were fully aware of these discussions and you were part of these discussions also?

Sharad Pawar: Definitely, being the party chief they have raised the issue with me…They were explaining their issues. They were explaining how many cases who is facing. They were explaining that Mr Bhujbal was behind the bars. For such and such time. 

SJ: Chhagan Bhujbal was behind bars for some time?

SP: Like that they gave me a list of our colleagues were facing these types of cases, and that’s why they were insisting that unless and until we go with them [the BJP], there is no escape. 

SJ: But sir. he has been saying that you were also present in those meetings with the BJP. You must have seen his latest statement which, he was telling me, that you were there, Amit Shah was there, Gautam Adani was there. 

SP: Gautam Adani…that’s not fully correct. But definitely. You see, I believe in dialogue. When this issue was raised by our colleagues about the cases…I said I don’t believe this. I said, after some time, if they [the BJP] are not happy with you, when a situation comes and you have differences, from somewhere again it will come to the table and they will take action. 

SJ: So for that reason you said you met some of the BJP leaders?

SP: No, listen. They [my colleagues] said the cases will be taken away in such and such a way…I said I don’t believe it. They said if you don’t believe it, you can hear it from the horse’s mouth. And I said alright, let’s meet…So definitely, there was not exactly for that purpose a meeting. But there was a meeting. At Mr Adani’s house. 

SJ: At Mr Adani’s house in Delhi?

SP: In Delhi. It was a dinner meeting. I was invited for dinner. 

SJ: Who was there? You were there? Amit Shah was there?

SP: I think I took Ajit also. But Mr Adani, he was not participating in the discussion. He was, in fact, he was hosting dinner. At the dinner table he was there. I’m not saying that we were sitting in a separate room. And I was telling these cases one has to face. I’m getting information for my colleagues about their cases being dropped, which I did not believe would happen.

SJ: You were saying you have to face these cases. You were telling your colleagues they have to face the cases.

SP: Yeah, in fact, as of today the cases are still there. Today all these cases have not gone. 

SJ: But what did Amit Shah say to that?

SP: He did not say anything. 

SJ: But what I think many people were surprised by is why would Adani would host such an evening. Because he’s a businessman…

SP: Adani, I know him since long. Nowadays people know Mr Adani. I was knowing Mr Adani from when his name was also not there. I was supporting Mr Adani to set up a power generation unit in Praful Patel’s constituency in those days. 

SJ: In Praful Patel’s constituency in Vidharbha? In Gondia, Bhandara?

SP: In that area. Exact location I cannot say. Nagpur to Bhandara, that area. 

SJ: So that time you’d supported an Adani power plant…

SP: No no. I was insisting not only Adani, anyone who comes to invest, particularly in the power sector. Some colleagues from Bombay also set up some units. 

SJ: You’re saying your association with him goes back a long time?

SP: Yes I think more than 20-25 years.

SJ: But what was his role in this particular meeting? Why was he bringing people together?

SP: So somebody who you know personally. So I know him personally, I suggested why not do it.

SJ: To do it in his house?

SP: Yes.

SJ: So this accusation that is coming…

SP: What accusation?

SJ: No no, from some of the other parties in the alliance, from MVA, Shiv Sena, they’re saying that this shows Adani was trying to break the NCP and he was trying to play a role in the BJP forming government. 

SP: Adani has not uttered a single word in our political discussion…He just came and sat elsewhere. 

SJ: He sat elsewhere. He was not part of it. But Pawar sahab, it’s interesting because you’ve seen Rahul Gandhi, Congress, they keep attacking Adani, they keep saying Modi is Adani-Ambani ka sarkaar. 

SP: Yes, you see. Certain issues they are raising, they have every right to raise it. 

SJ: But you don’t agree with that?

SP: One has to see what exactly he has done. If he has done something wrong, if it is against the country's or state’s interest then he should suffer. If it is not against the country's interest, then just for the sake of it why should I say anything?

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