MUMBAI: Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Sharad Pawar and his kin of “enslaving” people in his stronghold of Baramati, the NCP chief hit back, saying Modi was compromising the prestige of PM’s post by lowering the standard of public debate with personal attacks.“The prime minister’s position is being undermined and the standard of public debate has been lowered by those occupying it. Personal attacks are given priority in speeches,” Pawar said in Mumbai.He also lashed out at the Modi government for using Doordarshan “to propagate the RSS ideology”. Pawar said forcing one’s ideology on people is a cause of concern. “Social equality comes under danger in such situations. I am willing to cooperate if an anti-BJP front materialises,” he said, adding that he would not take any initiative in this regard.Amid speculation about possible realignment of parties, Pawar praised Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray for “working hard” to strengthen his party. “After Balasaheb’s death, you (media) wasted a lot of ink contemplating Sena’s future. But Uddhav proved you wrong. He is doing well to strengthen the party. He is working hard,” Pawar said, adding that success or failure in polls is a different matter.Taking strong objection to pictures of Modi and his speeches in the US being used as campaign material for BJP in Maharashtra, Pawar said, “Modi visited the US as prime minister and not as BJP leader. This is extreme misuse of power.”Replying to journalists’ questions, Pawar said it was too early to assess Modi’s performance as PM. “He has to focus on priorities. At least appoint a full-time defence minister so that the morale of the forces on the borders is boosted. Ceasefire violations are happening daily,” Pawar said.Pawar said that BJP had no right to seek votes in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji. “A seventh standard social science textbook of Gujarat has distorted facts about the Maratha warrior king, saying he was born in 1603 AD at Shivneri Palace and Konddev was his grandfather.”On the issue of Vidarbha, Pawar said even though BJP manifesto does not talk about separate statehood, the Maharashtra unit leaders are speaking in favour of it. “NCP is for united Maharashtra. But, if voting is held by Election Commission to find the people’s views and if they are in support of Vidarbha, NCP will back the demand,” Pawar said.