Mumbai, Jan. 28 -- In the aftermath of the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday, there was an outpouring of grief and tributes from the minority community leaders who described him as a rare example of a "Muslim-friendly" and genuinely secular leader in state politics.
Cutting across political parties, minority leaders recalled Pawar's long association with issues concerning Muslims, minorities and backward communities crediting him with decisions that had a lasting institutional impact.
MLA Rais Shaikh said the death of the senior leader was a profound loss for the Muslim community. He stated that minorities perceive they had lost a leader who consistently stood by them in times of p...