Nearly a month after the death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, the controversy around the incident has flared up again, triggering sharp political reactions across the state. NCP MLC Amol Mitkari on Monday reignited the debate by raising serious questions about the circumstances of the crash and openly asking whether it was truly an accident or something more sinister.
Ajit Pawar died on January 28 when the aircraft he was travelling in from Mumbai crashed at Baramati airport. While the tragedy initially led to widespread mourning, unanswered questions have continued to linger, with leaders from both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party demanding clarity and a detailed investigation. Addressing a public gathering in Akola, Mitkari said that the mystery surrounding Pawar’s death refuses to fade and compared it to unresolved riddles from history, suggesting that the truth has been deliberately kept unclear.
He questioned the official version of events and said that even after several weeks, there is no convincing explanation about what exactly went wrong. “Even today, the question remains—was it an accident or a conspiracy?” he said, adding that Maharashtra deserves clear answers. Mitkari argued that if the incident was not an accident, those making such claims must present proof, otherwise doubts will only deepen. He also questioned why the state machinery appears calm despite the seriousness of the matter.
Taking his remarks further, Mitkari made controversial claims about the pilot involved in the crash, alleging a troubled professional history and raising eyebrows by asking whether the incident could have been a deliberate act. Referring to past incidents of political assassinations, he drew parallels with suicide attacks, a comparison that immediately sparked outrage and intensified political tensions.
Mitkari also raised doubts over inconsistencies in official statements, questioning the number of people who died in the crash and pointing to claims made by the pilot’s family that he was alive. He asked why certain pilots were reportedly changed at the last minute and demanded transparency from aviation authorities. According to him, these unanswered questions are not just political but moral, and silence today will invite tougher questions from future generations.
Calling the loss not just a blow to the Pawar family but to Maharashtra as a whole, Mitkari said he has urged party legislators to seek answers at the highest level, including writing to the Prime Minister. His remarks have once again pushed the tragic crash into the political spotlight, ensuring that the debate over Ajit Pawar’s death is far from over.
