mumbai

Updated: Oct 10, 2017 00:34 IST

Senior leaders across the political spectrum heaped praises on the 35-year-long career of state Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sunil Tatkare at the launch of ‘Samagra’, a book about him.

Though chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was expected to attend, he skipped the event at the eleventh hour. Fadnavis came under fire as Tatkare is currently facing graft charges in the multi-crore irrigation scam being investigated by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB). The agency falls under home department headed by Fadnavis.

Social activist Anjali Damania, who exposed the irrigation scam, had opposed Fadnavis’ attendance at the function and announced that she would stage protests at the venue. Polices detained Damania and a few Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activists when they reached Ravindra Natya Mandir auditorium to hold a silent protest.

“He [Tatkare] is a good administrator and possesses all the qualities of a good political leader... Don’t get disheartened by failure. Remain down to earth when you achieve success,” said NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Chandrakant Patil, senior BJP leader and state revenue minister, attended on Fadnavis’ behalf. He complimented Tatkare for not losing patience when he was “dragged into the controversial irrigation scam”.

“We all know what happened with him [Tatkare] recently. Still, he never lost his cool and always had a smile on his face. This is not an ordinary quality. On behalf of the BJP and the state government, I extend all the best wishes for his future,” Patil added.

Tatkare said the the support of his party, its chief, and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, helped him brave the allegations. “The presence of leaders from all parties is a clear message that there is something beyond politics,” Tatkare said.