Mon May 19 07:42:21 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The news article reports on Sharad Pawar, president of the NCP (SP), disagreeing with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s call to boycott government delegations sent to various countries to discuss India’s stance on the “Pahalgam attack” and related Pakistani activities. Pawar emphasized that national issues should transcend party politics, referencing his own experience in a delegation led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The article also covers Pawar’s efforts to mediate a dispute over the proposed Purandar Airport, where farmers are resisting land acquisition due to its impact on their fertile, irrigated farmland. He plans to convene a meeting involving local representatives, MP Supriya Sule, and the Chief Minister to find a solution that preserves the region’s agricultural productivity.
**News Article:**
**Pawar Rebukes Raut Over Boycott Call, Seeks Solution to Airport Land Dispute**
**Pune, Maharashtra – May 19, 2025** – NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar has publicly distanced himself from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s call to boycott government-led delegations tasked with addressing international concerns surrounding the recent “Pahalgam attack” and subsequent activities originating from Pakistan. Pawar, speaking to the media in Baramati, stressed the importance of bipartisan unity when dealing with matters of national security.
“When international issues arise, party-level politics should be set aside,” Pawar stated, recalling his own participation in a United Nations delegation led by then-BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee under the Prime Ministership of P.V. Narasimha Rao. His comments came a day after Raut urged INDIA bloc constituents to boycott the delegations, alleging they would be defending government wrongdoings. Pawar acknowledged Raut’s right to his opinion but noted a member of Sena-UBT is part of the delegation.
In other news, Pawar is also working to mediate the ongoing dispute surrounding the proposed Purandar Airport, where farmers are resisting the acquisition of their land. The land, benefiting from a lift irrigation scheme initiated during Pawar’s tenure as Chief Minister, is highly fertile and crucial for local horticulture and sugarcane production. Pawar aims to resolve the issue by convening a meeting involving local representatives, Baramati MP Supriya Sule, and the Chief Minister, seeking a solution that minimizes disruption to the region’s agricultural prosperity. Concerns about inadequate compensation, displacement, and environmental impact have fueled local opposition, which escalated into violence earlier this month. Locals met with Pawar on Sunday to raise these issues.
First Piper 