Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar publicly expressed his thanks to industrialist Gautam Adani for his generous contribution of ₹25 crore towards establishing a new technology centre in Baramati. The occasion marked the inauguration of the robotic lab in the engineering department of Vidya Pratishthan, where Pawar, along with Deepak Chhabria of Finolex, unveiled the innovative facility.
Following the ceremony, Pawar extended his appreciation to Adani and Vijay Shirke of Shirke Construction, who collectively donated ₹35 crores to initiate the tech centre. Pawar highlighted the significance of their contributions, stating, “We are in the process of constructing India’s first centre of excellence on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for which there is a need for ₹25 crores. Fortunately, our two colleagues agreed to help after I urged them.”
Pune-based industrialist Vijay Shirke contributed ₹10 crore to the project, as acknowledged by the NCP chief. Pawar specifically thanked Adani for his substantial contribution, emphasizing, “With the help of these two industrialists, we are building this project now. I must take Adani’s name and thank him for his contribution.”
This public acknowledgment by Sharad Pawar comes in the midst of recent controversies surrounding Adani-led projects. Days earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray criticized the Adani firm-led Dharavi redevelopment project, labeling it as the “biggest scam in the world.” Thackeray, leading the Shiv Sena in alliance with the NCP and Congress in Maharashtra, expressed concerns over the government’s involvement with Adani Group.
Pawar’s distinct stance on the Adani Group, despite recent criticisms from political counterparts, highlights the complexities within the political landscape as alliances navigate differing perspectives.
