Pained by PM's statement on UPA allies: Pawar
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on UPA allies has caused "pain and unease" to us, NCP chief and Union minister Sharad Pawar said today.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on UPA allies has caused "pain and unease" to us, NCP chief and Union minister Sharad Pawar said today.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Singh had referred to the challenges that a coalition government faces when making policy and other decisions.
He had said difficult decisions were getting "more difficult" because of coalition compulsions. The statement came in the backdrop of the Congress-led UPA government facing stiff opposition from allies over various measures.
"There is not even a single instance where we (NCP) have caused any hindrance (for the government). Making such a sweeping statement has caused anguish and unease for us.
"I am the NCP chief. We have 15 MPs in Parliament. We have been working with this PM and the government for the last 7-8 years," Pawar said.
There has been no occasion when the government took one decision and NCP another, Pawar said. "We maintain coalition dharma."
Asked if the government would become unstable over the PM's remarks, Pawar said he does not see any such thing happening. To another query, the Union minister ruled out possibility of mid-term polls.
Pawar clarified that his party had no grouse against the ruling coalition at the Centre and his reaction was limited only to the PM's statement.
"We don't have any other grouse against the UPA government. It is limited only to the PM's statement. If he has issues with any (ally) party, the PM has the full right to take a position on it.
"We felt bad about the PM's statement, because we (NCP) never acted like this (against coalition dharma)," Pawar maintained.
Last Tuesday it was decided that there would be regular meetings of all UPA constituents, Pawar said. Accordingly, daily meetings have begun, he added.
"I had extreme sentiments on the decision on cotton export ban, which I had conveyed (to the Government)," he said.
Pawar said he could not attend the swearing-in ceremony of "old friend" Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal due to ill-health. "There is no other reason for my skipping the function," he added.
Asked if he saw the Samajwadi Party inching closer to UPA, Pawar said, "From what I have been seeing, the SP has been cooperative."