The Maratha strongman said Modi stooped low by making comments about his family, but he cannot behave in the same way. At an election rally in Wardha early this month, Modi had said a family war is going on in the NCP. The PM had also claimed that Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar is slowing capturing the 1999-founded party. Pawar said if Modi had a 56-inch chest, as he has claimed, then why his government has failed to ensure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Navy officer, from Pakistani jail.

Jadhav is in a jail in Pakistan, where he has been sentenced to death by a military court on charges of espionage. Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Modi had claimed at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh that only a person with a "56-inch chest" (implying a bold approach) could solve problems faced by the country. Pawar said Modi constantly criticises Congress stalwarts like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, but he should tell what he has done for the country.

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He also lambasted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for not giving reservation in education and government jobs to the Dhangar (shepherd) community. Even the Maratha reservation issue is pending in court, the former Chief Minister said, adding, "They (BJP leaders) deceive people." Pawar was addressing the rally in support of Rajesh Vitekar, the NCP candidate from the Parbhani Lok Sabha constituency, which will vote on April 18.

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