Ajit Pawar's shocking remark on water shortage: who said what

New Delhi: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stirred up a controversy yesterday when he said "If there is no water in the dam...Should we urinate into it?" Mr Pawar had said this in context to a two-month-long protest by a farmer, who is demanding dam water for his parched field. After much outrage, he apologised saying "These remarks were not made for drought-affected people."

Here are the reactions to Mr Pawar's comments:

Prabhakar Deshmukh, fasting farmer on whom Ajit Pawar made the remark
Ajit Pawar was voted in to solve the people's problems, not make such remarks. Why is water being provided to a liquor factory and not farmers?

Shaina NC, BJP leader
Instead of saying that I stand by the public he makes comments like this. This is the lowest of low in Maharashtra politics.

Shabana Azmi, actor and activist (on Twitter)
Ajit Pawar's remark has touched an all-time low in crassness. Trivialising drought in Maharashtra and audience laughing! Disgusting.

Farhan Akhtar, actor (on Twitter)
Ajit Pawar fancies himself as a stand-up comic. I think his party should take his cue, sack him and let him follow his dream.