MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday accused NCP president Sharad Pawar of indulging in 'dirty politics' over state government's decision to confer the prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan award on historian Babasaheb Purandare.

The award ceremony is slated to be held on August 19 at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. "Pawar had felicitated Purandare on a few occasions. Did he not think then that what Purandare has written is not right," Raj said, addressing a press conference at his residence in central Mumbai's Dadar area.