Adani hard-working, down to earth with big ambitions in building infrastructure: Sharad Pawar in 2015 autobiography

NCP chief Sharad Pawar may have broken ranks with other opposition parties on the Adani issue but his friendship with Gautam Adani dates back to nearly two decades when the businessman was exploring expansion into the coal sectorIn his Marathi autobiography Lok Maze Saangati published in 2015 Pawar has lavished praise on Adani describing him as hardworking simple down to earth and with ambition to make big in the infrastructure sectorThe veteran leader also wrote that it was at his insistence that Adani ventured into the thermal power sectorPawar recounts in the book how Adani built his corporate empire from scratch starting as a salesman in Mumbai locals dabbling in small ventures before trying his luck in the diamond industryAlso Read It seems targetedno need of JPC Sharad Pawar on Hindenburg report concerning Adani groupHe was earning well in the diamond industry but Gautam was not interested in that He had ambitions to enter the infrastructure sector He had good relations with Gujarat Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel and had submitted a proposal to develop a port at Mundhra the NCP chief wroteHe recalled that Patel had warned Adani of the port being closer to the Pakistan border and in an arid region Despite the adversities he accepted the challengePawar wrote that later Adani made his foray in the coal sector and it was at his suggestion that the businessman ventured into the thermal power sectorPawar who was the then Union Agriculture Minister said he had made the suggestion to Adani during a function to mark the death anniversary of NCP leader Praful Patels father at Gondiya in MaharashtraGautam acknowledged my suggestion in his speech Usually nothing much happens on statements made from the podium but Gautam pursued the matter and established a 3000 MW thermal power plant in Bhandara the former Maharashtra chief minister saidIn the book Pawar recounts how he developed close ties with several businessmen as he sought to usher in development in Maharashtra during his decadeslong political careerThe NCP chief said he remained in regular touch with business leaders who could meet him without appointment daily between 2 pm and 4 pm during his tenure as the chief ministerPawar recounted his arrangement with the then Gujarat chief minister Chimanbhai Patel who would divert big projects to Maharashtra Pawar said he reciprocated the gesture by sending some small projects to Gujarat an arrangement that ensured the two states scaled greater heights on the economic frontPawar has also written about how he helped Hyundai Motors set up a manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu after the Korean carmaker faced some hurdles in setting up business in Maharashtra during the Shiv SenaBJP ruleAmid a strident opposition campaign demanding an investigation into the Adani Group by a Joint Parliamentary Committee Pawar surprised his fellow opposition leaders by favouring a probe into the dealings of the Gujaratbased business house by a Supreme Courtappointed panelPawar also came out in support of the Adani Group and criticised the narrative around Hindenburg Researchs report on the conglomerate saying that he felt that the business group was targeted and that he was not aware of the antecedents of the USbased shortselling firmPawar has charted a different course than the Congress on issues such as criticism of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and the Adani GroupThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever