BJP, associates designed attacks: Pawar

Referring to the sacking of former naval chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, Pawar said the Defence Minister and the Prime Minister should have handled the issue very delicately. “Relations between ministry of defence and chiefs of three services have not been so cordial as we think. It would have been more appropriate for the Defence Minister and Prime Minister to handle the issue carefully,” he said.

When asked whether his party would demand an inquiry into the matter, he said the party does not wish to stretch the issue of Bhagwat’s sacking beyond a limit.

On the affairs of the State, he said that a minimum of five years will be required to put the finances back in order. The new government will have to tread carefully as nearly Rs 3000 crores out of total allocation for developmental works will have to be paid in the form of interest. “We are constantly receiving complaints pertaining to expenditure on Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation,” he added.

“The present government seems more to be interested in awarding contracts than generating funds for projects. Credit rating of the State as a whole has fallen down to seventh position. One must remember that earlier the State topped the rankings,” he underlined.

On the statehood to Vidarbha, he said his party has not taken a stand over the issue. “A committee has been appointed to look into the feasibility of the formation of a smaller state. It will have to look into the economic viability,” he said. Pawar, however, felt that entry of independents into Congress was unlikely to affect majority of the ruling saffron alliance. “Their leadership will enjoy power till its last moment,” he remarked.