Pune (Maharashtra): Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not fulfilling his electoral promises like reducing petrol prices within 100 days of power and giving jobs to 2 crore youth.
"In 2014, PM Modi had said that inflation was on the rise. It was true. In 2014, PM Modi promised to reduce petrol prices within 100 days but it's been more than 3000 days, and the prices have not reduced...It is the same with LPG cylinders. He makes fake promises but he never fulfils them," Sharad Pawar said speaking at a public rally at Pune on Tuesday.

On unemployment among the youth, Pawar said, "The youth are disturbed in the country. He had also promised to provide jobs to 2 crore youth. But what is the situation now? Youths are not getting jobs."
Questioning polling in Maharashtra over five phases in the Lok Sabha polls, Pawar said, "Tamil Nadu has 38 seats. Poling was done in one phase...But in Maharashtra, elections are happening in five phases...Why is this happening?"

Pawar's attack came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a veiled dig at the NCP (SCP) chief saying that Maharashtra has been a victim of a "Bhatakti Atma" for a long time which has led to political uncertainty in the state as well as has created a split in his party and his own family.
"Bhatakti Atma has unsettled govts for years in Mahrashtra (There are some wandering souls whose wishes do not get fulfilled) They even derive pleasure from others' failures. Maharashtra has become a prey to such a wandering soul. 45 years ago a big leader from here started this game for his satisfaction. And from then on, Maharashtra transitioned into a phase of uncertainty," the Prime Minister said addressing a public meeting at Pune on Monday.

In a reference to the recent split among the ranks of the NCP, PM Modi said that this "Bhatakti Atma" even has the potential to split his own party as well as his family.
"Several Chief Ministers could not fulfil their term. This (soul) did not only create difficulties for the opposition, this soul has the potential to do anything. It does the same thing in his own party, even his own family," the Prime Minister said.
Maharashtra's 11 seats will be voting in the third phase on May 7. Out of 48 seats, voting in 13 seats has been completed in the first and second phases.