NCP chief Sharad Pawar says BJP engineered a split; keeps reconciliation door open

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday claimed that the BJP had engineered a split in the party but expressed confidence that the BJP and the rebels would be voted out of power by the people. Pawar has, however, kept the doors of reconciliation open by saying that the politics he practised there was no space for 'hate'. «State NCP chief Jayant Patil will look into the issue of disciplinary proceedings.

I have not expressed anger against anyone. Some of our colleagues have taken a step which is not right. However, for that I will not be angry or be hateful.

That is not how I do politics. If any of those (rebel NCP MLAs) want to meet me, then I will consider it,» he said. «Today, in Maharashtra and the country, a divide is being created among the people in the name of caste and religion by some groups.

We need to fight the forces that create fear among peaceful citizens. We need to protect democracy in our country,» he said. Pawar claimed BJP had brought down the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government and now lured MLAs from his party.

«They want to come to power by destabilising other political parties and breaking them. Some of our own people have fortunately become victims of BJP's strategy to destabilise other political parties,» said Pawar. Pawar made these comments in Karad where he visited the memorial of his mentor and Maharashtra's first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan and paid tributes to him.