Shiv Sena's stand on key issues inconsistent, says NCP

Mumbai: A day after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said both BJP and Shiv Sena were close to finding a common ground on the Land Acquisition Bill, NCP today accused the Uddhav Thackeray-led party of practising "double standards" and often changing stand on crucial issues.

Shiv Sena has expressed reservations about certain provisions of the Land Bill, but Gadkari yesterday indicated the BJP ally may eventually come on board and support the crucial legislation of the Narendra Modi government.

Asked about the Sena's stand on the Bill, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik told reporters here that the party wants to be critical of the BJP-led government and still be part of it.

Accusing the Sena of adopting "double standards" on key issues, Malik said the party's stand on Jaitapur nuclear project and Enron power plant had been inconsistent. "When State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam (a Sena leader) said his party is not opposed to Jaitapur nuclear project but is supporting the locals opposing it, Sena President Uddhav Thackeray was in London. Did Uddhavji meet any representative of the French company (Areva) involved in the Jaitapur project?," Malik said.

"We all remember how Shiv Sena's stand on Enron changed after Rebecca Mark (a senior executive of the US company in 1990s) visited Matoshree (the Thackeray residence)," he added.

Asked about former Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, under investigation in the irrigation scam, not requiring to personally visit the Anti-Corruption Bureau's Worli office here with regards to ongoing probe, Malik credited his lawyers for the relief.

Asked why this facility was not available to Chhagan Bhujbal, another NCP leader who is also facing probe in the same scam, Malik said, "Bhujbal's lawyers may not have informed him about this provision (exemption from personal appearance)."