Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday mocked Maharashtra's Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for not clearing pending files in time and not taking decisions promptly.
Speaking at the release function of a book on former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Pawar cited Deshmukh's knack of going through the files and taking quick and proper decisions.
"It is the mark of a good administrator that he does not need to read and go through all that is written in the files. He can quickly assess the grievance of a person coming to him. And today, there are people who will shake inside out at the mention of signing a file. It is as though they develop temporary paralysis when signing a file," he said.
Pawar's jibe was targeted at Chavan whom he has criticised a number of times for his style of functioning.
In the past, Pawar has claimed that Chavan's delay in clearing files hampered various development projects in the state.
Continuing in this vein, Pawar said, "When the rulers do not take decisions, the common man suffers. There is nothing wrong in deciding on matters which are important for the development of the state."
While reminiscing about Deshmukh's role in building cooperatives in his region, Pawar expressed his unhappiness about the condition of cooperatives in the state today.
"They have become one-man fiefdoms and the main purpose (of setting them up) has been defeated,” he said.
The book on Deshmukh comprises reminisces and tribute to the late leader who passed away on August 14 last year.
