New Delhi, February 21 With NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar seeking the removal of Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu in connection with the Baramati plane crash, sources from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Saturday said the allegations are completely politically motivated and baseless.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in the crash of a Learjet 45 plane, owned by VSR Ventures, near Baramati on January 28.
While the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to release its preliminary report on the fatal crash before February 28, concerns have been raised by certain quarters claiming that there could have been a conspiracy that led to the crash.
On Saturday, Rohit Pawar wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the removal of Rammohan Naidu and demanding an independent investigation into the plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar.
Naidu is a senior leader of the TDP, which is part of the ruling NDA at the Centre.
TDP sources on Saturday said allegations about Naidu's or the party's involvement in shielding anyone connected to the plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar are completely unfounded, baseless, and appear to be politically motivated.
The AAIB investigation is technical, transparent, and entirely evidence-based, they said, adding that the investigating body should be allowed to do its job and provide evidence-based answers.
Mentioning that attempts were being made to politicize the tragic loss of a respected political leader, the sources said the TDP has always held Ajit Pawar in the highest regard and remains fully committed to ensuring that the truth emerges and that those responsible, if any, are held accountable.
Rohit Pawar, a two-term MLA and nephew of NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule and late NCP leader Ajit Pawar, has been holding press conferences claiming sabotage in the air crash.
On February 19, the civil aviation ministry said the AAIB would issue a preliminary report on the crash within 30 days of the occurrence, as per ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) norms, and the final report would follow in due course.
Amid concerns raised in certain quarters about the operator, the crash, and the ongoing investigation, the ministry, on February 19, also said that "the AAIB's investigation is technical and evidence-based, involving systematic examination of wreckage, operational and maintenance records, and laboratory testing of components where required."
