Cong caught between RJD and NCP

Caught between pressure from its allies from Bihar and political expediency with regard to Maharashtra, which is ruled by it, the Congress on Monday did a tightrope walk. In an apparent bid to take a high moral ground over the politics of oneupmanship in Bihar with its ally RJD and the latter8217;s rival in the state JDU threatening that their members would resign from the Lok Sabha if action is not taken against MNS chief Raj Thackeray, the Congress accused the JDU of 8220;political opportunism8221; and at the same time endorsing Lalu Prasad8217;s proposal of a joint action.

The party, however, also defended the son-of-the-soil policy as echoed by its Maharashtra ally NCP but said violence against north Indians could not be allowed. Congress8217; balancing act came a day after NCP leader and Union Minister Praful Patel echoed the need for maintaining a 8220;Maharashtrian ethos8221; in an interview on CNN-IBN8217;s Devil8217;s Advocate programme.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, on the other hand, has chosen to keep to himself on the issue. 8220;Everything is fabricated8230;. This is irresponsible8230;.I have seen the reports8230;.I just don8217;t want to talk to the media,8221; Pawar is learnt to have remarked to reporters over exaggerated politicisation of what he termed as 8220;blown-out-of-proportion violence against north Indians8221; and added that he was 8220;not a leader of one state8221;.

8220;We have proposed that all MPs and MLAs of Bihar resign to project a united face on the issue. Why only Lok Sabha MPs, why not Rajya Sabha MPs and members of both Houses of the state legislature. However, the JDU offered that only its MPs would resign when the tenure of the Lok Sabha is just a couple of months away,8221; Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said endorsing the Railway Minister8217;s stand.