Maharashtra NCP(SP) chief Jayant Patil has strongly defended veteran leader Sharad Pawar in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent criticism. Highlighting Pawar's tenure as Union Agriculture Minister, Patil listed several of his achievements that, according to him, transformed India’s agricultural sector.

Patil credited Pawar with turning India from a food-importing nation into an exporter. He stated that Pawar ensured fair crop prices, subsidies for orchards, and introduced the National Horticulture Mission, which greatly benefitted farmers. "No one has done as much work as Sharad Pawar as the Agriculture Minister in the history of India. Those who raise questions about his contribution clearly lack understanding of his work,” said Patil.

Amit Shah, during events in Malegaon and Mumbai, had questioned Pawar's contributions to Maharashtra's cooperative movement, sugar mills, and farmers. Shah remarked, “It is not enough to become a leader through marketing; it’s necessary to work on the ground.”

Responding sharply, Patil outlined key achievements of Pawar's leadership. He noted that food grain production increased by 60 million tons during Pawar's tenure, with India achieving its first-ever 100-million-ton rice production milestone in 2013. The National Horticulture Mission initiated under Pawar’s leadership saw Rs 8,000 crore allocated, leading to the irrigation of 60 lakh hectares and generating Rs 14,000 crore in agricultural export revenue.

Patil also mentioned several farmer-friendly policies, including the introduction of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), a significant farm loan waiver of Rs 70,000 crore, and special drought relief packages totaling Rs 2,200 crore for Maharashtra.

In a strong message to Amit Shah, Patil said, “The people of Maharashtra have immense faith in Pawar Saheb. Amit Shah should not dare to repeatedly question his contributions. Maharashtra’s farmers and people will not tolerate this.”