Foreigner issue 8212; NCP snubs BJP

Mumbai, Nov 24: BJP designs to embarass the Democratic Front Government on the foreign origin issue is likely to fizzle out since the Nat...

Mumbai, Nov 24: BJP designs to embarass the Democratic Front Government on the foreign origin issue is likely to fizzle out since the Nationalist Congress Party NCP has taken a policy decision not to support any such move.

8220;I have been informed that BJP will move a non-official resolution on the foreigner issue during the winter session of the State Legislature. NCP will not support such a move, since I feel that the resolution is politically motivated and aimed at destabilising the Democratic Front Government. We will not succumb to their evil designs,8221; NCP president Sharad Pawar said.

Prima facie, Pawar said the State Legislature is now empowered to make such a recommendation to the Centre. In the event, if such a resolution is to be moved, it should be done by the ruling party and not by the opposition.

Talking to media persons, Pawar observed that though his party has not given up the foreigner issue, he felt that a state assembly or a municipal corporation is not the appropriate forum to take up such issues of national importance.

8220;I feel that the state legislature is not the forum to discuss such issues, since prima facie, any decision on a complete ban on foreigners holding constitutional posts has to be taken by the Centre,8221; Pawar pointed out.

Pawar, who left Congress and formed NCP on the issue of foreign origin of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, declined to comment on the reported statement of Congress leaders Murli Deora and Nasikrao Tirpude to the effect that Congress should reconsider its tie-up with NCP if the latter continued to attack sonia.

He, however, made it clear that the NCP would cooperate with the BJP in Parliament in enacting an amendment to the Constitution barring persons of foreign origin from occupying high offices.

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Pawar said he has already asked NCP legislators not to discuss or debate the foreigner issue since it was a subject matter of discussion at the national level.

Leader of opposition in the Legislative Council, Nitin Gadkari, has moved a non-official resolution urging the Centre to amend the Constitution to provide for a ban on election of foreigners to top posts, particularly of President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Chief Minister of a state.

On the poor financial situation in the State, Pawar said the Democratic Front Government is now chalking a comprehensive plan to restore economic normalcy.

On the row over the multi-crore Enron power project, Pawar said Padamsinh Patil, the new Minister for Energy has called for all relevant papers from the department as well as the Maharashtra State Electricity Board MSEB.

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Pawar also ruled out any alliance with the BJP either at the Centre or in Maharashtra. 8220;I have no such plans, neither am I interested in returning to State politics since I have spent enough time in Maharashtra,8221; he added.