Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has refused to become the president of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Speaking in Kolhapur on Sunday, he said that he will not lead the anti-BJP front and is not aspiring to be the president of the UPA. “I am not going to take the responsibility of leading any front of different parties against the BJP,” he said.
The NCP chief said the Congress cannot be ruled out with the BJP becoming an alternative at the Centre. He said that I am not interested in that position at all. I’m not going to fall into it. I will not take that responsibility. In fact, the youth wing of the NCP had recently passed a resolution asking Pawar to become the president of the UPA.
‘Presence of Congress all over India…’
Pawar said he is ready to cooperate, support and strengthen any block if an attempt is made to give an alternative (to the BJP) at the national level. Asked about the role of the Congress in running a front against the BJP, he said that the Congress has a pan-India presence even though the Grand Old Party is not in power at present. The NCP chief said that you will find Congress workers in every village, district and state of the country. The reality is that the Congress has a wide presence.
‘Allegations of using ED for extortion’
Hitting out at the BJP-led central government, Pawar said allegations have been made that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is used for extortion. He said talks are on regarding pre- and post-raid reconciliation (with ED officials). If this is true and the government is not reining in the agency, then the Center should respond.
‘Fuel prices being hiked every other day’
Sharad Pawar said that inflation is a big issue in the country. He said that fuel prices are being increased every other day under the BJP regime, which is not only affecting the finances of the common people, but is also contributing to price rise and higher cost of transportation. “I am not saying that earlier fuel prices were not hiked, but now they are being increased every day. It is a big issue but the government is looking at the other side,” he said.