Pune: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's latest declaration on his experience with Pakistani citizens on Monday hottered the hustings in poll-bound Maharashtra with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis connecting it to voting bank politics. Mr Fadnavis also said that major leaders should bear in mind whether their statements benefit India or Pakistan, adding that Pakistan used Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's comments about scrapping Jammu and Kashmir's unique status to attack India. 

Addressing a meeting of minority community members at the NCP office in Mumbai on Saturday, the former Defence Minister said that he had visited Pakistan several times and was always received warm hospitality.