Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised serious questions regarding the plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday morning. Expressing her condolences, she suggested that the accident may have involved foul play and called for a thorough investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
In her statements, Banerjee highlighted that the incident raises questions because Ajit Pawar had been distancing himself from the Mahayuti alliance. She emphasized the need for a fair and impartial inquiry, warning that no one in the country is truly safe, and expressed her lack of trust in investigative agencies apart from the Supreme Court.
Mamata Banerjee’s Tweet
Following the crash at Baramati Airport, Banerjee tweeted:
“I am deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar. Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and those traveling with him lost their lives this morning in a tragic plane accident at Baramati. My condolences to his family, including Sharad Pawar, and all friends and supporters of the late Ajit Pawar. This incident must be thoroughly investigated.”
She later elaborated that people’s safety is not guaranteed and hinted at political implications, noting that Ajit Pawar had been planning to reunite with Sharad Pawar. She insisted that the investigation should be conducted under Supreme Court supervision, as no agency could be fully trusted.
Other Political Leaders Raise Concerns
Bihar MP Pappu Yadav also expressed doubts about the crash, stating that whether the incident was an accident or a conspiracy remains unclear, but a complete investigation is necessary to determine the cause.
Background on the Aircraft
The plane involved was operated by Delhi-based charter firm VSR Ventures. This is the second incident involving a VSR chartered Learjet in Maharashtra in the last two and a half years. The previous accident occurred on 14 September 2023 in Mumbai, when the Learjet 45 XR (VT-DBL) veered off the runway during landing from Visakhapatnam. Thankfully, no casualties occurred in that incident, as all six passengers were safely evacuated.