Dy CM Ajit Pawar says Congress and NCP are settling political scores through Anna agitation

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lashed out against the Maharashtra government on Saturday and said that the Congress and National Congress Party were taking political advantage of the anti-corruption agitation spearheaded by Anna Hazare by using it to settle political scores.



Speaking from the NCP office at Nariman Point, the leader reacted over the agitation for the first time, even as the Congress that holds the upper hand in the existing Democratic Front government held a closed-door meeting to assess the fallout of the agitation. With the arrest and subsequent release of Anna Hazare last week, party leaders fear that the anti-corruption agitation may affect its prospects in the coming local and civic bodies elections.u00a0

Pawar said the arrest of Hazare was unwarranted, and the committee that deliberated with Hazare and his team should have comprised leaders from other parties, including the Opposition. "The social crusader had resorted to hunger strikes on several occasions in the past, but the state leaders always found a way out. This time, the state leaders were not consulted," said Pawar.

NCP general secretary D P Tripathi agreed with Pawar and expressed regret over the Congress-led government's decision to sidestep Sharad Pawar. He added that the UPA should function like an alliance instead of a single party government.

Pawar also said that Congress leaders were using the agitation for political gain. He took the example of a former Congress MLA who was defeated by Tribal Development Minister Babanrao Pachpute who asked the schools run by his trusts to participate in a rally to support Hazare.

"Such incidents are being repeated elsewhere in the state where the Congress and NCP leaders fight against each other at local levels. They have been asking organisations and institutions patronised by them to hold rallies so that the elected representative in power feels the heat," he said.