Sharad Pawar's wife stopped at business park tied to Ajit's wife

PUNE: A visit by NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar's wife Pratibha and their granddaughter Revati to the Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park turned contentious when they were stopped at the park's entrance for nearly 30 minutes Sunday.

The incident sparked discussions within political circles, especially given the park's connection to the Pawar family. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra is the park's chairperson.

A video shows a family member accompanying Pratibha and Revati, daughter of MP Supriya Sule, questioning a security guard, who claimed he was instructed by authorities to bar their entry. After about half an hour, a discussion between a park representative and the guard led to the vehicles being allowed inside.

The park's chief manager Anil Wagh clarified that the misunderstanding stemmed from misinformation about a political rally. "I received information that a political rally would be arriving at the park, but I was not aware that it was Sharad Pawar's wife who wanted to visit," he said.

"When I realised it was her, I immediately told the security personnel to let her enter the park. She and other family members interacted with some women employees of the park."

The park was established during Sharad Pawar's tenure as Union agriculture minister when UPA-I was in office and has long been associated with his legacy in the region.