Kozhikode, May 16: NCP national president Sharad Pawar today accused congress of adopting a "soft hindutva" approach "that is paying rich dividends to the communal forces backing the BJP-led NDA government." "It is unfortunate that congress is pursuing a soft hindutva line which is paying rich dividends to the communal forces in the country," he told reporters here.
Pawar, who is here in connection with his party's state conference, said while other opposition parties were vehemently opposing BJP during the Gujarat elections, "the Congress preferred a soft line" on the issue.
Congress-led UDF government in Kerala was also acting in a similar manner, he said, referring to the recent distribution of tridents in the state.
He replied in the negative when asked if NCP would align with Congress in the future in opposing BJP. "While our main fight is against BJP, we have differences with Congress too," he said, adding his job right now was to develop NCP at the national level.
"Within three years of its formation, NCP has succeeded to gain representation in eight state assemblies," the former defence minister said, adding NCP was concentrating on establishing its presence in several more states by working together with regional parties. Bureau Report