KOLHAPUR: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday put to rest the suggestion that he should lead UPA as part of an effort to put up a united fight against BJP at the Centre, by saying “I’m not interested”. Talking to reporters in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur, Pawar said: “I won’t accept such a responsibility. I will certainly extend my help if there is an attempt to put up a united fight as a political front against BJP.”
The NCP supremo further said, “Before making such an attempt, the leaders ought to understand the reality that a united front cannot be hammered out without Congress. Congress, though not in power, still has a vast presence and reach across India compared to any other regional party.”
Pawar was speaking in the context of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s recent suggestion that he should lead the UPA as its chairman. Raut’s suggestion also found resonance with NCP workers and set off speculations.
On Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s statement that Congress needs to grow stronger for the sake of a strong opposition in the country, Pawar said, “Securing a strong opposition is critical to the survival of parliamentary democracy. We can’t have a situation where only one party survives. This can be done only by (Russian president Vladimir) Putin.”
On ‘The Kashmir Files’, Pawar said, “The movie is made in such a way that after watching it, hatred will be created in the minds of one community against another. BJP is making use of the movie for political gains. I am sure it is showing the movie to the voters free of cost in places where bypolls are being held.”
Referring to allegations by MNS chief Raj Thackeray that casteism started when NCP was launched, Pawar said Thackeray has the habit of remaining underground for three to four months and popping up and giving one lecture and then going underground again.