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NCP not to abandon Sonia`s foreign origin issue: Pawar
New Delhi, Oct 12: Unfazed by Congress` ultimatum asking it to re-think its stand on AICC president Sonia Gandhi`s foreign origin or face a pull-out from coalition government in Maharashtra, NCP today asserted this would be its main plank in coming assembly polls and ruled out giving up the issue.
New Delhi, Oct 12: Unfazed by Congress' ultimatum asking it to re-think its stand on AICC president Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin or face a pull-out from coalition government in Maharashtra, NCP today asserted this would be its main plank in coming assembly polls and ruled out giving up the issue.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar told reporters in Sirul in Maharashtra that it would be the main issue for his party in coming assembly polls. He made it clear that NCP has not given up the issue or diluted its stand.
Pawar said, "Due to compulsions, the party had to forge an alliance with Congress in Maharashtra but at the national level both the parties reserve the right to criticise one another."
Pawar's sticking to his remarks first made at an election rally here last Friday, came a day after Maharahstra Congress chief Ranjit Deshnmukh gave an "ultimatum" giving the NCP leader a week to either "reconsider" his stand on Gandhi's foreign origin issue or face "dire consequences".
Picking up from where from Pawar left, his close aide and NCP spokesman Praful Patel said there was neither any question of his party giving any clarification nor tendering an apology for the stand on the issue of Gandhi's foreign origin.
"We do not have to give clarification to anyone. If Congress feels that they should not stay in government (in Maharashtra), they have a right to that decision," he said.
On the other hand, Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters in Mumbai that "if NCP is partner in the ruling coalition, it must give due respect to our (Congress) leadership".
Shinde, who was commenting on Pawar's remarks on Gandhi's foreign origin, said, "We are running a coalition government in Maharashtra and NCP should respect our party leadership. They should think before making any statement against our leader."
He questioned as to why the issue of Gandhi's foreign origin was being raked up when the Supreme Court has already settled the matter.
Shinde said Sonia never criticises her adversaries in such a manner.
Asked whether both Congress and NCP should join hands to fight Shiv Sena-BJP in the next year's assembly polls, Shinde said the issue would be decided by the party high command.
Congress Parliamentary Party treasurer Suresh Kalmadi favoured breaking of alliance with NCP and said this was the "right time" for this.
Accusing NCP of working out an alliance with BJP for coming assembly elections and next Lok Sabha polls, he said current statements by NCP leaders showed their intentions and political thinking.
Terming the Congress' ultimatum as "childish", NCP general secretary Tariq Anwar said his party would not drop the issue of Gandhi's foreign origin.
Pointing out that there was nothing new in NCP's stand on Gandhi's foreign origin issue, he said the subject was "alive" even when Congress and NCP formed the coalition in Maharashtra to keep Bjp-Shiv Sena from power.
Striking a conciliatory note, however, another NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said both Congress and NCP fight polls on some issues but their leaders would have to seriously think to what level they would like to stick to the issues.
Bureau Report
Pawar said, "Due to compulsions, the party had to forge an alliance with Congress in Maharashtra but at the national level both the parties reserve the right to criticise one another."
Pawar's sticking to his remarks first made at an election rally here last Friday, came a day after Maharahstra Congress chief Ranjit Deshnmukh gave an "ultimatum" giving the NCP leader a week to either "reconsider" his stand on Gandhi's foreign origin issue or face "dire consequences".
Picking up from where from Pawar left, his close aide and NCP spokesman Praful Patel said there was neither any question of his party giving any clarification nor tendering an apology for the stand on the issue of Gandhi's foreign origin.
"We do not have to give clarification to anyone. If Congress feels that they should not stay in government (in Maharashtra), they have a right to that decision," he said.
On the other hand, Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters in Mumbai that "if NCP is partner in the ruling coalition, it must give due respect to our (Congress) leadership".
Shinde, who was commenting on Pawar's remarks on Gandhi's foreign origin, said, "We are running a coalition government in Maharashtra and NCP should respect our party leadership. They should think before making any statement against our leader."
He questioned as to why the issue of Gandhi's foreign origin was being raked up when the Supreme Court has already settled the matter.
Shinde said Sonia never criticises her adversaries in such a manner.
Asked whether both Congress and NCP should join hands to fight Shiv Sena-BJP in the next year's assembly polls, Shinde said the issue would be decided by the party high command.
Congress Parliamentary Party treasurer Suresh Kalmadi favoured breaking of alliance with NCP and said this was the "right time" for this.
Accusing NCP of working out an alliance with BJP for coming assembly elections and next Lok Sabha polls, he said current statements by NCP leaders showed their intentions and political thinking.
Terming the Congress' ultimatum as "childish", NCP general secretary Tariq Anwar said his party would not drop the issue of Gandhi's foreign origin.
Pointing out that there was nothing new in NCP's stand on Gandhi's foreign origin issue, he said the subject was "alive" even when Congress and NCP formed the coalition in Maharashtra to keep Bjp-Shiv Sena from power.
Striking a conciliatory note, however, another NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said both Congress and NCP fight polls on some issues but their leaders would have to seriously think to what level they would like to stick to the issues.
Bureau Report