UPA, not PC, makes Naxal policy: Pawar

There might be discordant notes emanating from within the UPA government over the way Home Minister P. Chidambaram is handling the Naxal issue. But NCP leader and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, while supporting the government, said that there was nothing called “Chidambaram’s Naxal policy”.

There might be discordant notes emanating from within the UPA government over the way Home Minister P. Chidambaram is handling the Naxal issue. But NCP leader and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, while supporting the government, said that there was nothing called “Chidambaram’s Naxal policy”.

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“Whatever policy has been announced is not an individual’s decision. It is a government’s collective decision and I am part of that government,” Pawar said.

The NCP leader also disagreed that the UPA-II lacked cohesiveness. “I do not see any cohesive difference. Understanding in the government is good,” he said.

Pawar took exception to the language used by Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari against Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Party leader Lalu Prasad.

“Whether national or state leaders, no civilised person should use this kind of language. Even now there was a large section among present day politicians too who did not like the use of intemperate language,” the NCP chief said.

Asked about the growing divide between Marathis and north Indians in Mumbai, Pawar said, “There are no divisions among north Indians and Marathis living in Mumbai. The state has always respected other people... This (divide) is not a thing of masses... Maybe some political parties have this position.”