Pune, Dec. 29 -- Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani on Sunday described Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar as his "mentor," lauding his vision and contributions to India's rural and agricultural development. The remarks came during an event in Baramati, which also highlighted a rare public show of unity within the Pawar family amid political churn in the NCP. Speaking at the inauguration of Sharadchandra Pawar Centre for Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Adani said Baramati exemplified development driven by leadership and long-term planning. "Some places go beyond being mere points on map and become symbols of progress and limitless potential. Baramati is one such place, shaped by vision of my mentor, Sharadchandra Pawar," he said. The event brought together Sharad Pawar, his nephew and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, NCP MP Supriya Sule, and MP Sunetra Pawar. The AI centre, established under Baramati-based educational trust Vidya Pratishthan, received Rs.25 crore in funding from Adani, for which Pawar had earlier expressed his gratitude. Adani said he has known Sharad Pawar for over three decades and credited him for his knowledge, wisdom, and empathy. Calling Baramati a "living blueprint for Bharat", Adani praised Pawar's ability to balance grassroots realities with a national vision. "Across roles and party lines, Pawar saheb's leadership has shaped India's agriculture, food security, cooperatives, and the rural economy," he said. Sharad Pawar, in turn, described Adani's journey as an inspiration for young people who dream big. Recalling that Adani hails from the drought-prone Banaskantha district in Gujarat, Pawar noted that he arrived in Mumbai with little and built a business now present in 23 states. A MoU was signed between Vidya Pratishthan and Adani Group for R&D, placements, and related initiatives. The centre is envisioned as a hub for innovation and technology-driven solutions, with particular focus on rural development. Baramati MP Supriya Sule highlighted the long-standing personal relationship between the families. "We share a 30-year-old relationship with the Adani family. If I have good or bad news, I tell Gautam bhai frankly, as a sister. He is like my elder brother," she said. Earlier in the day, Gautam Adani and his wife, Priti, were welcomed by members of the Pawar family in Baramati. They travelled together in a car with Ajit Pawar, while NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar was seen driving. Several Pawar family members, including Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Sunetra Pawar, Yugendra Pawar and Rohit Pawar are part of the Vidya Pratishthan board. The event came amid political speculation about a possible understanding between the two factions of the NCP. The camaraderie extended beyond the stage, with Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar seen chatting during the programme. Later, Ajit Pawar and his wife Sunetra visited Sharad Pawar's residence, Govind Baug, for lunch, a first since the 2023 split. In his speech, Ajit Pawar highlighted the scale of the Adani Group, noting its operations in 20 countries and current employment of three lakh people, expected to rise to five lakh over the next five years. He also detailed the group's renewable energy projects, healthcare investments, and CSR initiatives. However, the programme drew criticism from opposition allies. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that Adani's brother had played a role in the NCP split and questioned the optics of Rohit Pawar driving Adani's car. Congress state unit chief Harshavardhan Sapkal echoed the sentiment. "If Adani has learned something from him, it would not be surprising, just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he was guided by Pawar in politics," he said....