Satara: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent criticism of late PM Rajiv Gandhi, including his "corrupt number 1" barb directed at the latter.
Pawar said, "it did not behove the prime minister to make such a remark about the person who was not alive."
Modi at a rally in Uttar Pradesh last Saturday targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying, "Your father (Rajiv Gandhi) was termed Mr Clean by his courtiers, but his life ended as 'bhrashtachari' no. 1 (corrupt number 1)."
Besides, in a sensational charge, Modi on Wednesday accused the Gandhi family of using warship INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister.
Reacting to the allegations, Pawar told reporters here, "That person (Rajiv Gandhi) is not alive. His death was painful, for anyone."