Says Why Did The Sena Not Object To Saffron Terror Remarks While Supporting Pranab?
Mumbai : NCP chief Sharad Pawar questioned Shiv Sena’s stand over his ‘saffron terror’ remarks here on Monday while reiterating his party’s commitment towards ‘stability’ in the state.
“How did this saffron terror issue come up?” Pawar said, while addressing the press conference. “I had used the term a few years ago in the Malegaon blasts case. But, that was not a hurdle when I took Pranab Mukherjee to Matoshree (the Thackeray residence) seeking support in the Presidential election,” he added. The NCP chief also said that earlier he had sought Sena’s support for Pratibha Patil in her Presidential bid which the party readily gave.
Pawar also reiterated the party’s commitment towards a stable government in Maharashtra, while lodging a veiled attack on Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
On Uddhav’s comment holding him responsible for bringing down Atal Behari Vajpayee’s 13-day-old government, Pawar said he being the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha at that time did what was expected of him.
“There is no need for others to advise us what we should do. Similarly, there is no need for BJP to accept or deny our support. What decision we take, we will implement and it will be recorded in the proceedings,” Pawar said.
Pawar said his party’s outlook is positive. The decision to extend support to the BJP was prompted by the need to avoid fresh elections. But, at the same time he made it clear that the party will play the role of an effective Opposition.
“We may oppose a bill in the assembly, if we feel that it does not go with the party line,” Pawar said while answering a query.
He also made it clear that the decision to back the minority government was “conscious and collective” and not part of a “hidden deal” with BJP.
“We have not discussed our decision with anyone. It was a conscious and collective decision in the larger interest of the state. Nobody asked us for our support. BJP is free to not accept our support,” he elaborated.
Since Congress and NCP were not in a position to provide an alternative government, the only way to avoid a fresh poll was to back the BJP dispensation, he said.
“The numbers game is such that there is no (possibility of) alternative arrangement. We don’t want the state to go for another election immediately,” he added.
