Kolhapur surprises many, gives Scindia a rousing welcome

It was evident from reports that Scindia was himself expecting a cold welcome. However, he was overwhelmed by the turnout. “Despite Pawar’s tall claims on Western Maharashtra, the entire region is intact (sic). It is not a monopoly of Pawar,” he remarked.

At Kolhapur and Tasgaum, the home town of NCP leader R R Patil, a Pawar aide, Scindia received a warm welcome. Scindia was accompanied by Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Prataprao Bhosale, Suresh Kalmadi and PatangraoKadam.

In his speeches at Kolhapur and Tasgaum, Scindia launched a frontal attack on Pawar for his `betrayal’ of trust in All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi’s leadership. “For obvious political reasons, the over-ambitious Pawar stabbed the Congress in the back. I am sure Pawar will not get unqualified support from the electorate of Western Maharashtra,” said Scindia.

Scindia also came down heavily on Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for bringing the nation into `unprecedented financial crisis’. “If the Vajpayee Government is not dislodged in the forthcoming elections, the country will have to pay a heavy price,” Scindia said. “Vajpayee demolished the foundation laid by Jawaharlal Nehru and subsequently followed by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi,” he remarked.

On the Kargil conflict, Scindia blamed the Vajpayee Government for dereliction of duty. “Despite the fact that reports were pouring in from official agencies, the Centre failed miserably in taking immediatecorrective steps. The officials of the armed forces have taken concrete steps, but the political head of the country was unable to provide direction to the nation,” he said.

The AICC general secretary also expressed concern over extra-constitutional organisations’ growing interference in the Government’s functioning. “The Vajpayee Government is giving undue importance to organisations like the Bajrang Dal, which is spreading a new kind of terrorism in the country,” he said.

THus, where the Centre has failed to protect the borders and landed the nation in a financial mess, Scindia said it was essential to instal the Congress Government so as to provide stability.

On the Republican Party of India having joined hands with the NCP, Scindia said barring Ramdas Athawale, all other factions were with Sonia Gandhi. “The negotiations are in a final stage and I am sure we will settle the seat adjustments,” he said.

MPCC president Pratap Bhosale said, “The NCP will not get more than five seats in theState. If Pawar gets more than five seats, I will felicitate him in his hometown Baramati.”

Ever since the split in the Congress, Pawar’s supporters believed the Congress would get no response in Western Maharashtra. However, Pawar’s close aides have expressed surprise at the overwhelming response to Scindia.